Our Story
More Than
40 Years Advancing Vascular Health
The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures was founded in 1982 on the belief that scientific discovery and prevention could reduce the burden of vascular disease. What began as a foundation focused primarily on research has steadily evolved. As vascular science, healthcare, and patient needs have changed, so has our role.
Across four decades, one idea has remained consistent: meaningful progress often begins by recognizing an unmet need, bringing the right people together, and helping a promising solution move forward.
1982–2012
Building a Foundation for Discovery
The Foundation began as the Pacific Vascular Research Foundation, created to support vascular research and encourage innovative approaches to prevention and treatment.
Over the following decades, the organization invested in basic vascular science, helped develop research infrastructure, and supported the next generation of vascular investigators.
Programs such as the Wylie Scholar Program provided early-career vascular surgeon-scientists with resources to establish independent research programs and contribute to advances in the field.
2013–2019
From Funding Research to Catalyzing Collaboration
As the Foundation grew, its role expanded beyond supporting individual researchers.
The Vascular Cures Research Network strengthened collaboration among investigators, while the Vascular Health Innovation Summit brought patients, clinicians, researchers, industry leaders, and other stakeholders together to identify unmet needs and develop new approaches.
This period also included exploration of patient-centered digital health and new ways to understand outcomes that matter to people living with vascular disease.
2020–2023
Putting Patients More Directly at the Center
The Foundation increasingly incorporated patient and caregiver perspectives into research, education, and organizational decision-making.
Patients as Partners created more consistent opportunities for patients and caregivers to serve as advisors and collaborators, not simply as recipients of information.
During this period, the Foundation also expanded patient education, supported patient-centered research, and developed partnerships designed to reach communities historically underrepresented in research.
2024–Today
Connecting Research, Prevention, and Community Impact
Today, the Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures works across research, prevention, education, and patient partnership to address important gaps in vascular health.
Through our research and innovation work, we bring together patients, clinicians, researchers, and other partners to identify emerging needs, shape patient-centered research priorities, and support promising ideas and collaborations that can lead to better prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.
At the same time, CHAMPIONS brings prevention into communities by combining cardiovascular risk screening and peripheral artery disease assessment with education, workforce training, research, community partnership, and guidance for appropriate follow-up.
Looking Ahead
Catalyzing What Comes Next
Our history is not simply a collection of programs.
It reflects an evolution toward a more connected approach to vascular health—one that brings together scientific opportunity, patient experience, prevention, education, and community action.
As we look ahead, we will continue to focus on areas where important needs remain unmet, collaboration can unlock progress, and a focused investment of resources and expertise can help promising ideas move forward.
