Translating Scientific Discoveries into
Next-Generation Cardiovascular Care
Pioneering Treatments That Change Lives
At Stanford Medicine, we see a future where we can predict, prevent, and cure cardiovascular disease. Every day, our experts work to make this vision a reality. Stanford Health Care has a long history of defining the standard of care in heart and vascular medicine. We focus on a wide range of cardiovascular innovations, including:
- Advancing aorta repair and replacement: As the largest aortic emergency practice in California, we have extensive experience helping people with conditions and diseases that affect the aorta. We use a holistic, collaborative approach to provide immediate treatments and lifelong care.
- Determining the cause of heart disease: Identifying the root causes of heart disease helps us provide more effective treatments. Our team studies the latest advances in technology, such as the potential uses of the gene-editing tool CRISPR. We’re discovering how this groundbreaking technology can prevent heart disease by altering disease-causing DNA.
- Delivering care for complex conditions: We’ve developed new cardiovascular revascularization options for people who have had complications from previous procedures.
- Expanding access to minimally invasive treatments: We explore safe and effective ways to make minimally invasive treatments available to more people with cardiovascular disease.
- Using stem cell therapy: Our team explores using stem cell technology to replace damaged heart tissue and develop new drugs to treat heart disease.
Innovation Through Clinical Research
The Stanford Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) ignites new research and promotes collaboration between Stanford students, faculty, and scientists. Leading cardiovascular experts, engineers, educators, and physicians come together to investigate groundbreaking treatments using revolutionary technology. At the CVI, we focus on what’s next in cardiovascular science while training the next generation of leaders in heart and vascular care.
Innovation Highlights
Stanford Medicine researchers and doctors have discovered, invented, and implemented a wide range of revolutionary techniques and treatments. Hospitals across the country now use many of these therapies to manage and treat heart and vascular disease. Highlights of our many contributions to cardiovascular medicine include:
- Harnessing technology: In 2017, Stanford collaborated with Apple to study how iPhones and Apple Watches can detect atrial fibrillation (AFib). Using stem cells and sophisticated 3D printing technology, Stanford scientists are manufacturing a human heart to treat children with congenital heart disorders.
- Pioneering new techniques: In 2017, Stanford Health Care performed the first beating heart mitral valve repair procedure in the West. This minimally invasive technique treats mitral regurgitation without the need for open-heart surgery.
- Offering groundbreaking treatments: A Stanford Medicine cardiothoracic surgeon invented the TT-Maze procedure, a minimally invasive procedure that treats atrial fibrillation. Hospitals around the nation now use this technique. Our team was the first in Northern California to perform transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This minimally invasive procedure corrects valve problems without the need for open surgery.
- Performing milestone transplants: In 1968, Stanford Medicine surgeons performed the first adult heart transplant in the United States. In 1981, Stanford Medicine cardiothoracic surgeons performed the world’s first successful heart-lung transplant.
- Improving transplantations: Stanford Health Care has the longest-running heart transplant center in the U.S. In more than 50 years of performing transplants, we have continued to improve long-term survival after heart transplantation.
- Setting records to improve patient care: The Stanford Health Care team set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest DNA sequencing technique, offering doctors crucial information that helps them deliver more effective treatments.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
Heart-Saving Drug Developed by Stanford Medicine Researcher
Patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can now find relief thanks to the FDA-approved drug mavacamten.
FDA approves Stanford Medicine-developed drug that treats rare heart disease
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug developed at Stanford Medicine that offers hope to people diagnosed with a rare cardiovascular disease, transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, or ATTR-CM.
Stanford Cardiovascular Research Highlights
From First-In-Human Clinical Trials to Leveraging Technology for Underrepresented Communities
Long-Term Success: Stanford Medicine's Experience in Heart Transplantation Over Five Decades
At the longest-running heart transplant center in the U.S., Stanford Medicine experts have improved long-term survival after heart transplantation over the past 50 years.
Ask the Heart Expert: Advanced Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Therapies
Mitral valve disease is one of the most common heart valve problems, and tricuspid valve disease is a growing concern. Stanford Medicine has several clinical trials exploring new minimally invasive heart valve treatments.
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