American Vascular Association Awards

The American Vascular Association (AVA)/Lifeline Foundation celebrated its 20th anniversary at the 2007 Vascular Annual Meeting. During the past 20 years the Foundation has been successful in supporting the research work of vascular surgeons, the establishment of surgical registries, and the development of national screening programs. These efforts have further helped the Foundation maintain its leadership role in treating patients with vascular disease. At the meeting, the AVA/Lifeline Foundation honored not only the above winners, but also gave awards to the following individuals:

The 2007 William J. von Liebig (K08) AwardWinner:

John, A. Curci, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo.
Project Title
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Elastolysis in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Mentor: Robert W. Thompson, MD, Washington University School of Medicine

The 2007 Student Research

Fellowship Winners:

Dominick Bufalino
Chicago Area Research and Education in Science (CARES)
Edward J. Hines VA Hospital
Sponsor: Howard P. Greisler, MD
Project Title
The Effects of SMC FAK Signaling on Matrix Invasion and Sprout Formation Using EC/SMC Co-Cultured Cell Aggregates

Elizabeth Coons
University of Florida College of Medicine
Sponsor: Peter R. Nelson, MD
Project Title
Genomics of Smoking Driven Vein Bypass Graft Failure

Faraz F. Hashmi
Massachusetts General Hospital, 
Harvard Medical School
Sponsor: Michael T. Watkins, MD
Project Title
Hind Limb Ischemia Reperfusion in Murine Model of Human Disease

Ahmed Kayssi
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Sponsor: Michael S. Conte, MD
Project Title
Modulating Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype by RNA Interference: Validating Surviving as a Therapy Target

Gerhardt Konig
University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine
Sponsor: Nav Yash Gupta, MD
Project Title
Tissue Engineered Vascular Graft for Hemodialysis Access

Dania B. Magri
Yale University School of Medicine
Sponsor: Alan Dardik, MD
Project Title
The Role of Eph-B4 in Mediating VEGF-A Induced Vein Graft Adaptati

Rachel K. Qui
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Sponsor: B. Timothy Baxter, MD
Project Title
Effects of Doxyclycline on MMP and JNK Expression in SMC from Marfan Mice

Stuart T. Schroff
Keck School of Medicine at USC
Sponsor: Fred A. Weaver, MD
Project Title
Characterization of the Effect of Dll4 Inhibition on Angiogenesis Patterns and Tissue Perfusion

Vikram Sood
University of Michigigan
Sponsor: Peter K. Henke, MD
Project Title
Vein Wall Remodeling After DVT Is Matrix Metalloproteinase-Dependent

Kateki Vinod
Thomas Jefferson University
Sponsor: Paul J. DiMuzio, MD
Project Title
Differentiation of Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells into Endothelial Cells