Research

Productive and prominent programs in both basic and clinical research are fundamental to the development of clinical excellence and our academic mission.

Dr. Raul J. Guzman is a surgeon-scientist who investigates the pathways regulating arterial calcification. The Guzman lab focuses on the mechanisms that control arterial calcification and its effects on clinical outcomes in patients with peripheral artery disease. Based on new developments related to smooth muscle cell dedifferentiation, the Guzman lab has focused on the basic mechanisms underlying medial artery calcification. The Guzman lab has developed techniques for quantifying peripheral artery calcification on CT scans, and are currently studying the role of matrix degrading enzymes in arterial calcification using rodent, isolated organ, and cell culture systems to assess changes in gene expression and calcification of smooth muscle cells. Their ultimate goal is to develop therapies to reduce or prevent medial artery calcification and improve outcomes in patients with vascular disease.

Dr. Alan Dardik is a surgeon-scientist who seeks to use the power of molecular biology to achieve a modern understanding of vascular disease, and to use the basic science laboratory to perform cutting edge research to ultimately benefit patients with vascular disease. The Dardik laboratory studies the healing and function of blood vessels and synthetic blood vessel substitutes that are used in patients having vascular surgery. Current focus is mainly in understanding venous adaptation such as occurs during vein bypass adaptation and arteriovenous fistula maturation, delivery of stem cells to diabetic ulcers, and understanding patch healing during blood vessel closure. The laboratory is funded from NIH NHLBI and the VA, as well as from the Yale Department of Surgery. As part of Yale's Vascular Biology and Therapeutics program, the lab is located on the 4th floor of the Amistad building. Members of the Dardik laboratory include surgery residents from Yale and other programs as well as postdoctoral fellows and students from around the world.

Dr Jonathan Cardella’s research interest lie in two main areas. The first is the use of handheld thermal imaging as a diagnostic tool in Vascular Surgery. We currently have several studies on going where we are evaluating thermal imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of PAD. Furthermore, we are evaluating as a predictive tool in the creation of dialysis access fistulas as well as a diagnostic adjunct in dialysis access steal syndrome. Dr. Cardella is also active in educational research and has started a study to evaluate surgical autonomy.

Dr Cassius Chaar’s research focuses on clinical outcomes using large national database analysis. He also leads multiple clinical trials at Yale New Haven Hospital. Dr Chaar studies and publishes on various aspects of vascular disease including peripheral artery disease, varicose veins, venous thromboembolism, and aortic aneurysms.