Discover Innovative Research at the Texas Heart Institute

The Stem Cell Center of the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas is actively recruiting patients for an FDA-approved clinical study investigating the use of stem cells in aiding with recovery in cases of peripheral vascular disease.

Peripheral vascular disease results from blockages in arteries that feed the muscles and tissues of the legs. If there are severe blockages, patients may develop severe pain in their leg muscles when walking (claudication), pain in their leg muscles at rest or no blood flow leading to limb loss.

The Stem Cell Center is now investigating the effects of injecting bone marrow isolated stem cells directly into the leg muscles in legs affected by blocked arteries. The Stem Cell Center is now actively recruiting patients:

• with severe leg pain from blocked arteries in the legs (claudication).
• with evidence on non-invasive testing (i.e. ABI) of blockage.
• not amenable to conventional therapy including bypass or angioplasty.
• with no active infection in the affected leg.

Important Considerations

If you are a patient or physician referring a patient interested in entry into a research protocol there are a few important considerations:

• The primary concern for any investigation must be the safety of all participants. 
• The Stem Cell Center conducts clinical trials in strict accordance with protocols which have been approved by institutional governing agencies including the FDA and St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital Institutional Review Board.
• The Stem Cell Center is dedicated to conducting important, well designed, and safe clinical studies. The protocols, therefore, are very strict and no exceptions can be made regarding the criteria that are used to include or exclude patients.

Patients are not given monetary compensation for enrollment into the different studies. Once enrolled in the trial, patients are not charged for any therapy or monitoring that is directly related to the research.

Enrollment Information

If you are a Patient and wish to be considered for enrollment in a PVD trial, please call us toll free at 1-866-924-STEM (7836) or complete our secure online Patient Information Form. 

If you are a Physician and would like to refer a patient for consideration, please contact a study coordinator at 832-355-9405.

Principal Investigator

Emerson C. Perin, MD, PhD
Director, Clinical Research for Cardiovascular Medicine
Medical Director, Stem Cell Center

Contact Information

Internet: www.texasheart.org/stemcell
Email: stemcell@heart.thi.tmc.edu
Toll free: 1-866-924-STEM (7836)
Phone: 832-355-9405
Fax: 832-355-9440

Updated May 2009