Previous Winners

Early Career Faculty Award

Jeffrey Siracuse, MD
Boston Medical Center
Perioperative Nutritional Optimization in Patients Undergoing Revascularization for Critical Limb Ischemia

“Funds were used to support a study coordinator, statistical analysis, and nutritional supplementation for the study. The study has progressed well, but has been on hold due to COVID-19 due to state and institutional mandates.”

Medtronic Resident Research Award

Frank Davis, MD
University of Michigan
Epigenetic Alterations in Macrophages Influence Chronic Inflammation in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

“As the recipient of the 2018 VESS Awards Committee and Medtronic Resident Research Award, we used the funds to explore the mechanistic causes of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation. AAA are a life-threatening cardiovascular disease characterized by an inflammatory macrophage phenotype that contributes to pathological vascular remodeling and predisposes patients to the potentially fatal consequence of aortic rupture. Identifying the mechanisms regulating macrophage-mediated inflammation during AAA development are of critical importance to developing novel pharmacological therapies to prevent AAA progression. Recent evidence indicates that that epigenetic enzymes, specifically the histone demethylase JMJD3, play a critical role in establishing tissue macrophage phenotype. Using both human tissue samples and a mouse model of AAAs, we uncovered that JMJD3 regulates macrophage inflammation and pathological aortic dilation. Further we established that pharmacological inhibition of JMJD3 could prevent AAA development. Thank you for this opportunity and supporting the development of a vascular surgeon-scientist.”

W.L. Gore Travel Award

Nicolas Jano Mouawad, MD
McLaren Health Care

“My specific goals to help transition my institution into a regional referral center and as the flagship for vascular treatment across the 14 hospital health system was facilitated by the opportunities of the Vascular & Endovascular Surgery Society and other national organizations. Uniquely positioned, both geographically and strategically, we are located in Mid-Michigan, quite literally in the middle of the state, and have a huge catchment area where we also do outreach clinics in order to provide vascular
awareness and treatment.

As the recipient of the 2018 VESS/WL Gore Travel Award, I used the funds to visit Dr Patrick Muck at Good Samaritan in Cincinnati, Ohio. I spent several days there and gained valuable insight on directing a very busy community program with scholarly activity and trainee education, and how it has transformed the regional care of vascular disease. I was able to visit the operating rooms while they were doing an open aneurysm repair as well as some complex endovascular procedures. We discussed management considerations between clinical and administrative duties and how to streamline regional referrals by getting imaging sent ahead of time before patient transfers. Of course, we spent some social time together with his team checking out some new breweries too! I also did use the funds to visit Dr Ash Mansour in Grand Rapids and learn about the dramatic impact of championing early endovascular interventions with the necessary technology to provide optimal vascular patient care.

This experience was phenomenal! It an indebted to the VESS for this fantastic opportunity. I highly recommend VESS members to consider applying for this award!”