2005 Wylie Scholar

Rajabrata Sarkar, MD, PhD

Division Head, Vascular Surgery

Barbara Baur Dunlap Professor of Surgery & Physiology

University of Maryland

Wylie Research Focus: The genetic mechanisms regulating the growth of new arteries and ways to prevent damage from blood clots in the veins

Date Awarded: 2005

Dr. Sarkar is an expert in treating blood vessel disorders and a nationally known researcher in blood vessel growth and development. He is investigating the genetic mechanisms regulating the growth of new arteries and ways to prevent damage from blood clots in the veins. He is also studying how certain risk factors, including smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure—all prevalent among Americans today—prohibit that growth of new vessels.

Another focus of his research is how and why blood clots in veins fail to resolve in many people, leading to poor circulation. “We have identified key genes and proteins that help the body resolve clots, and we are targeting drug therapy to these genes with the goal of finding new treatments for the millions of people with deep vein thrombosis,” says Dr. Sarkar.

Dr. Sarkar has also studied members of the armed forces with vascular problems and tissue damage due to blast injuries, and is investigating the use of gene therapy to stimulate the growth of arteries and capillaries damaged by traumatic injuries. Such research would not only benefit patients with traumatic injuries, but also help people with poor blood flow due to hardening of the arteries.

Dr. Sarkar was mentor to the recipient of the 2013 Wylie Scholar award, the late Dr. Thomas Monahan.