Vascular Cures News

Watch the 2025 Wylie Scholar Award video featuring Dr. Gaines and her innovative investigation on how microbial byproducts influence vascular health and dialysis outcomes.

September 5, 2025 We are honored to share Tammy Leitsinger’s A Promise Kept , a moving reflection on her mother Betty’s journey with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). From the first signs of diagnosis through the challenges of progression, Tammy shares her story of resilience and underscores the importance of early detection and awareness.  By sharing Betty’s story, Tammy highlights the impact of PAD on patients and their loved ones while reinforcing the importance of educatio

August 4, 2025 We are proud to announce the first CHAMPIONS research internship. Three UCSF medical students, Guistinna Tun, Francine Rios-Fetchko, and Andrea Sandoval, will be contributing to efforts to improve the CHAMPIONS community health initiative across California. These rising physicians bring a deep commitment to health equity, community engagement, and innovation in patient care. CHAMPIONS is an initiative of the Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures, and founded by

July 24, 2025 We are delighted to announce that Dr. Sara Gaines, MD, has been named the 2025 Wylie Scholar Award recipient. Dr. Gaines is an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Section of Vascular Surgery and Associate Program Director of General Surgery at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Her innovative research is set to explore an intersection of vascular biology, kidney disease, and the gut microbiome. Dr. Gaines’ project, “The role of microbial ur

July 1, 2025 Announcing the Award Recipients The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s 2025 Collaborative Patient-Centric Research and Frederick M. Binkley Awards, two grants designed to foster innovative, early-stage research that harnesses digital health and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve vascular care. These projects, which relate to the discussions at the 2024 Vascular Health Innovation Summit, will advance pati

June 9, 2025 Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) affects millions of people in the United States. Yet despite its prevalence, PAD often goes undetected or misdiagnosed, particularly in communities that face systemic barriers to care. The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is proud to share the PAD Awareness Video Series: an initiative focused on amplifying patient voices and expert perspectives to inform, educate, and inspire change. This four-part series includes: Ray , a pati

April 30, 2025 Dr. Tze-Woei Tan and Dr. Emily Rosario, were awarded the 2022 Collaborative Patient-Centered Research (CPCR) grant for their project, Implementing Peer-Pal Intervention (PPI) in Low-income Patients with Ischemic Diabetic Foot Ulceration (DFU), by the Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures. The Peer-Pal Support Intervention (PPI) program introduces an equity-focused peer-driven care model to diabetic foot ulceration (DFU), designed to improve health outcomes for l

March 11, 2025 The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Ebony Dashiell-Aje to its Board of Directors. Dr. Dashiell-Aje brings a wealth of expertise in patient-centered outcomes research, measurement science, and patient engagement, making her an invaluable addition to our mission of advancing vascular health solutions. Currently, Dr. Dashiell-Aje serves as the Executive Director and Head of Patient-Centered Outcomes Science at B

February 4, 2025 The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is delighted to welcome Sharon Binkley Straus to our Advisory Board. Sharon brings a wealth of leadership, experience, and commitment to community service to the Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures. As the President of the Binkley Foundation, she provides mentorship and support to youth from underserved communities, and dedicates her time to ensuring that these youth become future leaders who advance equity. As part o

December 30, 2024 We are pleased to announce that our many educational materials that provide information about different types of vascular diseases are now available in simplified and traditional Chinese. You can find them here  and on our website under the education tab and under a description of our PCORI-supported project directed at Chinese-speaking patient and caregiver engagement in research. Our goals are to increase health literacy and to raise awareness among Chines

December 16, 2024 Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures Announces RFA for Pilot Research Projects on Digital Health and AI in Vascular Disease Prevention  and Care We are pleased to announce a new Request for Applications (RFA) for two innovative pilot research projects. This RFA was issued following the 2024 Vascular Health Innovation Summit , focused on "The Promise and Risk of Digital Health: Personalizing Vascular Care to Improve Patient Outcomes." The Foundation is commit

December 9, 2024 The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is delighted to welcome Dr. Leigh Ann O’Banion to the Board of Directors. Dr. O’Banion is a board-certified vascular surgeon and Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of California San Francisco-Fresno Branch Campus. Her remarkable career reflects not only her clinical excellence but also her dedication to addressing health inequities in underserved communities. Dr. O’Banion is the founder of the Co

September 23, 2024 We are delighted to announce that Dr. Patric Liang, MD, has been named the 2024 Wylie Scholar Award recipient. Dr. Liang is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and an Attending Vascular Surgeon at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. His pioneering research is making strides to improve vascular surgery outcomes. Dr. Liang’s award-winning project, “Biodegradable Hydrogels for Perivascular Delivery of Targeted Gene Therapy to Improve

September 10, 2024 Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common yet often overlooked condition where the arteries in the legs become narrowed or blocked, leading to reduced blood flow. This can result in symptoms like leg pain, cramping, or non-healing wounds. If untreated, PAD can significantly increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious complications.  In the most advanced stages, PAD can lead to amputation of the toes or leg.  Early detection is essential f

September 4, 2024 This month, as part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing understanding and support around Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), we hosted a heartfelt and informative webinar. In partnership with the PAD Collaborative and facilitated by the American Heart Association, we brought together a panel of experts, patients, and caregivers who shared their insights and experiences with PAD. Why This Webinar Matters Real Stories from Real People : Hear from individuals w

August 29, 2024 The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures mourns the passing of an esteemed former board member, Eric Hall, on July 31st, 2024. Eric previously served as co-chair of the Board of Directors and made significant contributions to the foundation’s mission. His leadership and dedication were instrumental in advancing our goals. Eric’s distinguished career spanned over 30 years of senior management experience across various industries, including life sciences, financ

June 26, 2024 Each year, the Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures hosts its Circulate! gala to celebrate achievements made by our organization and our incredible partners, and to educate our community about the ongoing need for support, innovation, and collaboration to address vascular health disparities. Circulate! is a chance to connect diverse members of our vascular health and advocacy community, including patients, caregivers, and their families, with other dedicated cha

April 5, 2024 Semra was diagnosed with PAD right after she had open heart surgery. She was strongly advised to maintain a walking regimen in addition to medication. Sports was not something that she enjoyed throughout her life; as an academic, she spent most of her life sitting in front of the computer or teaching. After adopting Zeyno, a rescue dog who loved walking, she started walking 15 minutes a day and slowly increased it to 30 minutes of walking through the pain. Now,

March 26, 2024 Redwood City, CA – The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is delighted to announce Dr. Katharine McGinigle, an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina, as the recipient of the inaugural Binkley Research Award for her pioneering project, "Developing a Flexible Statistical Framework to Accelerate Data-Driven Treatment Algorithms for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)." The Binkley Research Award is dedicated to funding patient-informed pilot projec

March 21, 2024 Philip's journey with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) began unexpectedly after a seemingly minor toenail removal led to a significant health scare. Discovering he had PAD following a non-healing wound, Philip underwent a major surgery that resulted in the removal of his big right toe and left him with 133 staples for three months. The aftermath was daunting; he faced a massive incision, swelling, and the fear of infection, leading him to discard his pain medica