Cardiovascular: Informal Talks

Vascular Disease and Regeneration

Requires RealOne Player

Mark T. Keating, M.D.
Investigator, Children’s Hospital, Boston

Cardiovascular diseases are the primary cause of death among both men and women in the United States. A loss of blood vessel elasticity and the resulting blocked arteries are common contributors to heart attacks. For those fortunate enough to survive a heart attack, the subsequent scarring of heart tissue often leads to additional complications. But what if the heart could heal without scarring? Research leading toward understanding how to heal the heart better might yield clues that would help us reach other important goals, such as the ability to regenerate other damaged organs or even wounded or lost arms and legs. Dr. Keating discusses his work with cardiovascular diseases and the role of the protein elastin in arterial formation and function, emphasizing his recent exciting progress on cardiac regeneration.

© 2013 Howard Hughes Medical Institute. A philanthropy serving society through biomedical research and science education.
4000 Jones Bridge Road Chevy Chase, MD 20815-6789 | (301) 215-8500 | email: webmaster@hhmi.org