The purpose of this proposal is to foster the scientific development of Angela Taylor, M.D. as she develops an independent clinical research career. The University of Virginia will provide Dr. Taylor with the ideal setting under the mentorship of Dr. Christopher Kramer in which to investigate the imaging and treatment of early coronary artery disease in diabetes. Type II diabetes has become an epidemic in the United States. Death from cardiovascular disease is 2 to 4 fold the general population. Recent trials have demonstrated that traditional risk factors alone are not completely predictive of disease burden as measured with current noninvasive imaging technology particularly early in the disease process. Overt coronary artery disease is preceded by abnormalities in myocardial microvascular function and nonocclusive plaque accumulation in the artery wall both of which can be measured invasively. It has been shown that risl
An eariier noninvasive mechanism of detection of cardiovascular disease will provide the potential to determine which risk factors have the greatest effect early in the disease process thus tailoring therapy and reducing costs, to offer a safer diagnostic mechanism, and to treat coronary disease eariier preventing future events thus contributing to significant improvements in public health.
