Grants
The Foundation granted funding of up to $150,000 for three new research initiatives in phlebology. Dr. Suresh Vedantham, Chair of the Research Advisory Committee for the American College of Phlebology, led this charge and is confident that the new grants will prove valuable to the field:
Research-In-Practice Grant
Developed for clinical phlebologists who wish to initiate a clinical research project of importance to the field of phlebology. This grant will be renewed during the new fiscal year pending additional funding requests.
2007 Award
Recipient: Dr. Clint Hayes
Topic: The Effect of Superficial Venous Insufficiency Treatment on Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Leg Movement DisorderDr. Clint Hayes received his Medical Doctor degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in Lubbock, Texas and is a Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI), a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT), and a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery. Hayes was the recipient of the 2006 BSN-JOBST Research Grant through which he investigated the effect of endovenous laser ablation on restless legs syndrome (RLS). The 2006 study showed that operative correction of the superficial venous insufficiency improved symptoms of RLS by 80%. Through funding provided by the Research-In-Practice Grant, Hayes will conduct a clinical trial to validate the use of saphenous vein ablation to provide relief for patients with RLS and Periodic Leg Movement Disorder (PLMD).
Junior Faculty Investigator Grant
Designed to allow junior faculty—typically at institutions of higher learning—with a career interest in phlebology research to initiate a basic, pre-clinical, or pilot clinical research project of importance to the field of phlebology. Associate professors and full professors are not eligible and applicants must not have received prior major grant support (exceeding $50,000). This grant will be renewed during the new fiscal year pending additional funding requests.
2007 Award
Recipient: Dr. Van Cheng
Topic: Hypertension-Induced Venous Insufficiency: Amelioration by Selected Anti-Inflammatory InterventionsDr. Cheng received her Medical Doctor degree from the University of California, San Diego and is a Board Certified physician and surgeon in the state of California. Cheng will study whether specialized drugs designed to ameliorate symptoms and signs of chronic venous disease (CVD) decrease the inflammatory enzyme activities in an animal model of venous hypertension.
Research Trainee Grant
Designed for young investigators in graduate-level medical or research programs who are not yet professionally established in phlebological sciences but want to gain insight into scientific investigation in the field of phlebology. This grant will be renewed during the new fiscal year pending additional funding requests.
2007 Award
No proposals were selected in 2007.