DREAM CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS 11 RESEARCH FUNDING PRIORITIES
Endothelial Dysfunction and Perioperative Injury ($100,000)
The endothelium is the cell layer that lines the inside surface of blood vessels. It is becoming increasingly clear that abnormalities in this lining, either due to ageing or from the trauma of surgery, are responsible for a large proportion of adverse events after surgery. High blood pressure is one disease process that appears to have its origin in endothelial dysfunction. A particular type of high blood pressure known as pulse pressure hypertension, where the systolic and diastolic pressures are wide apart, has recently been associated with greater injury to the kidney and brain, and a higher mortality rate after heart surgery. It is thought that pulse pressure hypertension is a marker of increased stiffness in the blood vessel tree, and occurs as a consequence of endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we plan to assess the risk of pulse pressure hypertension in patients undergoing other types of surgery and from new and existing blood samples, and develop gene and protein signatures of endothelial dysfunction.
To learn more about our 11 funding priorities please click on the images above.
If you are interested in becoming a donor to the Duke Dream Campaign, please contact Elizabeth Perez at elizabeth.perez@duke.edu or 919-681-2849.