Research

"From identifying today's important questions, to providing insights into the issues they raise, CRF research is making important contributions to literally every area of interventional cardiovascular medicine."

Gary S. Mintz, MD
Medical Director, Publications & Websites, Cardiovascular Research Foundation
Editor-in-Chief, TCTMD.com

CRF is currently involved in more than 250 local, national and international research projects, each based on collaborations with research partners in the United States, South America, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. CRF investigators lead many of the most important national and international clinical trials in interventional cardiovascular medicine. Research fellows come to CRF from around the world to develop expertise in collecting and analyzing data, writing abstracts and papers, and to gain other forms of advanced training. In addition to research and trials coordinated by the Foundation's Core Labs, CRF has extensive expertise and experience in the conduct of multicenter studies, of which there are more than 60 under way at any given time.

In conjunction with these projects, the Data Coordinating Center at CRF tracks an unprecedented number of patients – 15,000 at current reckoning – who have undergone interventional cardiology procedures. This longitudinal tracking continues with each and every patient, even after the device or procedure has won FDA approval.

But the true quality of research can only be measured in how it improves patient care. The Foundation's close relationship with the Columbia University Medical Center provides a unique opportunity to investigate new clinical strategies and to adapt technical advances to real-world patient care.