Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases are the largest cause of death and disability in the U.S. These manifest in many forms, such as heart attack, heart failure, aortic aneurysms, and peripheral vascular disease, all of which have a very high incidence in our state. UK has a prominent research group supported by substantial funding from the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association. A UK/Baylor College of Medicine research team received $3.7 million to study aortic disease as part of the new American Heart Association (AHA) Vascular Research Disease Network. The grant underwrites the work of the UK-BCM Aortopathy Research Center, which focuses on the impact of sex differences in aortic diseases. 

Criteria

Local Relevance

• Kentucky ranks 2nd in heart attacks, 6th in strokes and 7th in cardiovascular deaths.

Existing Areas of Strength

• By External Funding 

  

• By Research Scholarship (SciVal by Elsevier, 2012-2018)
  • 3,282 articles, books and other publications
  • 39,658 citations
  • 12.2 citations/publication
  • 1.71 field-weighted citations
  • 50% of publications in top-tier journals

Research Sustainability

Disciplinary Research Diversity

• 13 patents
• approximately 156 PIs leading cardiovascular disease- and stroke-related projects

Colleges, Centers & Departments Involved 

Opportunities

The cardiovascular priority area will use the following strategies:

• Maintain the growth of the areas of greatest cardiovascular research strength (support high level equipment requests)
• Increased engagement of cross college research activities (support collaborative pilot award funding and regular communication of CVR news and events)
• Enhance the growth in emerging strengths (biological and bioengineering, environmental and genetic contributions, implementation and dissemination sciences)
• Consider the development of new areas, particularly those assisted by the health disparities.
• Enhance the training experience of graduate students and post-doctoral fellow (direct support, pilot funds, travel awards)
• Facilitate the recruitment of underrepresented minorities, esp at the faculty level  
• Develop a pipeline program for engaging the high school students in CVR 
• Continue, expand current summer AHA CVR program for undergraduates

How to Become a Member

Contact:

Alan Daugherty, Associate Vice President for Research Core Facilities & Director of the Saha Cardiovascular Research Center, adaugh@uky.edu