Breakthrough Research Close to Home

MemorialCare is 1st in Nation with Breakthrough Research Advances – Right in Your Backyard

At MemorialCare, research is woven throughout national consortiums and centers of excellence through clinical trials and novel investigations to improve the health trajectory of chronic and life-threatening conditions. The Research Program at MemorialCare is accredited by the Association of Human Research Protections Programs, joining 600 entities worldwide. The Research Program meets rigorous standards in conducting scientifically sound research, promoting ethical and professional standards in research, reaching the highest levels of quality data, building extensive safeguards into every level of research, and ensuring quality improvement.

There are more than 300 ongoing research projects at MemorialCare at any given time, focused on specialties including cystic fibrosis, cancer and heart conditions, working to ensure MemorialCare is at the forefront of the treatments and cures of tomorrow.

MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute is working on innovative clinical trials like the ARISE-Study, which will help increase survival rates for those who experience in-hospital cardiac arrest. The study uses the Neurescue device–a catheter-based balloon inserted through the groin into the aorta–to help improve circulation and blood flow to the brain, while standard treatment is being administered. This can assist in efforts to restart the heart – increasing the chance of survival and full neurologic recovery. “The potential results of this study and device could essentially change how we manage cardiac arrests in the hospital setting,” said David Shavelle, M.D., interventional cardiologist, MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute. “If we can augment our standard treatment protocols to give cardiac arrest patients a greater chance of restarting their heart, this could be a game changer and an advancement desperately needed in the medical community.”

In addition, MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute is the first in the world to enroll a patient for the InCarda Therapeutics Phase 3 RESTORE-1 Trial of InRhythmTM study.

The RESTORE-1 study uses inhalation through the lungs to transfer medicine to the heart, similar to using an asthma inhaler. The “first pass” of the medicine is delivered directly to cardiac tissue, giving a small but effective dose of the drug to those infected regions of the heart. This study is for patients newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib). The medicine allows for rapid-onset of treatment and enables the patient to administer the drug anywhere when they have an AFib episode, by restoring sinus rhythm and relieving AFib-related symptoms in patients with recent onset, newly diagnosed, or recurrent AFib.

“We are excited to have enrolled the first patient in the RESTORE-1 study, as we believe that orally inhaled flecainide has the potential to offer AFib patients a more rapid and non-invasive treatment for restoring normal sinus rhythm,” said Mark Lee, M.D., cardiac electrophysiologist, MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute.

In addition to the ARISE-Study and RESTORE-1 study, MemorialCare Imaging Center performed the first treatment in North America with a Kronos Single Pass Electrocautery device designed to improve the safety of biopsy procedures, using large gauge needles that go through the skin to collect the biopsy. The Kronos Electrocautery device is a single-use, disposable device that uses battery current to heat the probe tip to cauterize the tissue damaged by the biopsy tools to prevent bleeding. The device offers a breakthrough solution for patients undergoing biopsy at high risk of bleeding complications — like seniors or those with advanced illnesses.

“The Kronos device produced excellent clinical results and gives more opportunity to get the specialized biopsies needed to diagnose or treat diseases. It offers a breakthrough solution for patients undergoing a percutaneous biopsy who are at high risk of bleeding complications,” said David Tahour, M.D., vascular and interventional radiologist, director, Vascular & Interventional Radiology.

MemorialCare is committed to sustained investment in clinical research to continue improving the community’s quality of life.

To learn more about Dr. Shavelle, Dr. Tahour and Dr. Lee’s research, or the many other studies being conducted, visit memorialcare.org/Research.