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Dr.
Bridges is engaged in a research project
funded by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging
and Bioengineering, entitled: " Retrograde In Situ
Isolated Cardiac Gene Delivery” Working in close
collaboration with Dr.
Hansell Stedman’s laboratory, we are developing
new techniques to enhance gene delivery to skeletal
and cardiac myocytes. Our work involves both large animal
experiments using cardiopulmonary bypass in dogs and
sheep and isolated perfused rodent hearts. Our laboratory
emphasizes large animal cardiac gene delivery protocols
that utilize cardiopulmonary bypass to optimize gene
delivery. Along with the group at Duke University, we
were the first to use cardiopulmonary bypass as a method
to enhance the efficiency of global vector-mediated
gene delivery to the heart. In collaboration with Dr.
Stedman’s group, we have generated intellectual
property resulting in several issued and pending U.S.
and foreign patents in the general field of gene delivery
to striated muscle.
Most recently, we have developed
a new cardiac surgical procedure and a novel retrograde
catheter that allows for complete isolation of the heart
in situ and global myocardial gene delivery. Preliminary
data derived from these experiments has demonstrated
efficient global transduction of cardiac myocytes in
the adult large animal heart. This approach appears
to be more efficient at transducing cardiac myocytes
in the adult large animal heart than any previously
published approach. We plan to rapidly translate these
exciting results to deliver therapeutic transgenes in
large animal models of heart failure. These studies,
using clinically applicable technology may ultimately
lead to new treatments for heart failure and other cardiac
disorders.
In collaboration with Dr. Keith
Gooch at the Institute for Medicine and Engineering
at Penn, we harvest excess radial and mammary artery
tissue as well as saphenous vein tissue. Basic investigations/tissue
engineering of these vessels is being performed at the
IME.
We are also engaged in a variety
of outcomes research studies in conjunction with the
Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Workforce on National
Databases and the STS Workforce on Evidence Based Surgery
where I serve as Chairman. There is the opportunity
to participate in a variety of ongoing studies including
the use of aspirin in cardiac surgery, the effect of
race on valve surgery outcomes, indications for aortic
valve replacement, studies of patient-prosthesis mismatch
in aortic valve surgery, the management of atrial arrhythmias
associated with general thoracic surgical procedures
and guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis in cardiac
surgery.
We work with students/faculty
in the Bioengineering Department at Penn in theoretical/
mathematical investigations of cardiac mechanics with
specific application to the Batista procedure and heart
failure. Using both theoretical models and three dimensional
imaging are working toward developing new algorithms
for more accurate prediction of the probability of aortic
aneurysm rupture and the rate of aneurysm growth.
Research
Publications |
