Congratulations to Ryan M. McEnaney, MD, who has been selected to receive a career development award from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA’s Career Development program is intended to attract, develop, and retain talented researchers working in areas of particular importance to improve the health and care of our nation's Veterans. Dr. McEnaney’s project, “Purinergic Signaling and Arteriogenesis,” will be funded from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022.
The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the United States is high, and is known to be even greater within its Veteran population. Currently available treatment for advanced arterial occlusive disease is procedure-based and subject to high cost and high failure rates. Worse, many veterans are not suitable candidates for intervention, leaving them no effective options for revascularization. Dr. McEnaney’s research award will provide important insight into a critical mechanism for collateral growth that will pave the way for pharmacotherapy development. Such a therapy would have great impact on the functional status of Veterans and non-Veterans alike, potentially salvaging limbs and maintaining quality of life.