Atherosclerosis and Vascular Medicine Clinical Research

See a list of our clinical research by investigator.

The Maria and Alando J. Ballantyne, M.D., Atherosclerosis Clinical Research Laboratory has more than three decades of experience in biobanking and currently stores >1.5 million samples in more than 70 ultralow-temperature (–80°C) freezers in dedicated climate-controlled freezer farm facilities, with an integrated barcoding system for sample tracking and a dedicated software program to maintain up-to-date sample inventory. Christie M. Ballantyne, M.D., is the director, and Ron Hoogeveen, Ph.D., is the co-director.

Studies in the Behavioral Medicine Research Center focus on development of effective cognitive–behavioral strategies to achieve and maintain healthy lifestyles to reduce cardiometabolic disease risk. Targeted risk factors include body weight in individuals with obesity, blood pressure in individuals with hypertension, hemoglobin A1C in individuals with diabetes, and lipid levels in individuals with dyslipidemia. John P. Foreyt, Ph.D., is the director.

Division faculty members conduct clinical trials to evaluate the effects of diet and drug interventions as well as the use of imaging modalities to detect and monitor atherosclerosis. Ongoing studies include NIH-supported projects and industry-sponsored research. Qualified participants are essential to medical research and make important contributions to improving medical practice and human health. Individuals interested in participating are encouraged to contact the study coordinator to determine eligibility.