Anti-VEGF therapy in ophthalmology: a qualitative analysis of transformative drug development.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors have revolutionized the care of vasoproliferative ophthalmologic disease and their history can provide insights into transformative drug development. Experts involved in the basic science through clinical development of VEGF inhibitors were interviewed and interviews were analyzed to synthesize key themes. Extensive basic science investigations by a multidisciplinary network of scientists and clinicians, most affiliated with Harvard Medical School, over the course of decades enabled a deep understanding of VEGF.

Molecular imaging of the paracrine proangiogenic effects of progenitor cell therapy in limb ischemia.

Background: Stem cells are thought to enhance vascular remodeling in ischemic tissue in part through paracrine effects. Using molecular imaging, we tested the hypothesis that treatment of limb ischemia with multipotential adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) promotes recovery of blood flow through the recruitment of proangiogenic monocytes.

Methods And Results: Hind-limb ischemia was produced in mice by iliac artery ligation, and MAPCs were administered intramuscularly on day 1.

Molecular imaging of the initial inflammatory response in atherosclerosis: implications for early detection of disease.

Unlabelled: Background- We hypothesized that molecular imaging of endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression could noninvasively evaluate prelesion atherogenic phenotype.

Methods And Results: Mice deficient for the LDL-receptor and the Apobec-1 editing peptide (DKO mice) were studied as an age-dependent model of atherosclerosis. At 10, 20, and 40 weeks of age, ultrasound molecular imaging of the proximal thoracic aorta was performed with contrast agents targeted to P-selectin and VCAM-1.