Redwood City, CA – The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is delighted to announce Dr. Katharine McGinigle, an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina, as the recipient of the inaugural Binkley Research Award for her pioneering project, "Developing a Flexible Statistical Framework to Accelerate Data-Driven Treatment Algorithms for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)."

The Binkley Research Award is dedicated to funding patient-informed pilot projects that address critical gaps in vascular health research. This year’s focus is precision medicine and flows from discussions at the Foundation’s 2023 Vascular Health Innovation Summit. Dr. McGinigle's project was selected for its innovative approach to leveraging existing datasets, biospecimens, and imaging to create new methodologies aimed at improving patient outcomes.

Dr. McGinigle outlines a comprehensive strategy to combat PAD, a condition affecting millions worldwide and leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The project harnesses electronic health records (EHRs), applying a statistical framework that identifies high-impact features for precision medicine interventions in vascular healthcare by developing a scalable, standardized vascular-specific extension to the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) common data model. 

By focusing on patient heterogeneity and the use of modern data science tools, Dr. McGinigle's work paves the way for better management of PAD by tailoring treatments to optimize patient outcomes, potentially leading to the development of new treatment algorithms.

"The Binkley Research Award underscores our commitment to fostering innovative research that can transform the patient experience" said Isabel Bjork, CEO of the Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures. "Dr. McGinigle's work embodies the spirit of this award, combining cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of vascular diseases to improve the lives of those afflicted by PAD."

The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures congratulates Dr. McGinigle on her achievement and looks forward to the impactful results her research will bring to the vascular health community and the patients it serves.

For more information about the Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures and the Binkley Research Award, please visit www.vascularcures.org.