Dr. Emerson Perin Appointed Director of Clinical Research for Cardiovascular Medicine at the Texas Heart Institute

Dr. Emerson Perin

HOUSTON (March 28, 2008) - James Willerson, M.D., president-elect of the Texas Heart Institute and president of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, has announced the appointment of Emerson Perin, M.D., Ph.D. as Director of Clinical Research for Cardiovascular Medicine at the Texas Heart Institute (THI). Dr. Perin is also director of THI’s Stem Cell Research Center.

In the stem cell investigations led by Dr. Willerson, investigators have been injecting adult stem cells into heart muscle or blood vessels to repair damage caused by heart attacks and other diseases. The process by which the cells effect these repairs remains elusive. Revealing the mechanism should enable physicians and researchers to refine and optimize stem cell treatment.

"As we have worked together collaboratively on stem cell research, I have become very impressed by Dr. Perin’s sincere interest, dedication, and abilities in clinical research. I believe that he will be a terrific leader in this clinical research role, and I shall work with him closely as he undertakes this important task," said Dr. Willerson.

Dr. Perin will direct clinical research efforts in cardiology, interventional cardiology, pathology and anesthesia.

"I’m very excited to have this opportunity to invigorate our clinical research programs, which directly involve patients in the most advanced cardiovascular treatments. I really want to involve a lot more of our physicians and scientists in building on our knowledge base to provide the safest, most effective treatments for a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases. I know we have the dedication and talent to have a big impact," said Dr. Perin.

A native of Brazil, Dr. Perin earned his medical degree from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. He conducted internship and residencies in Brazil as well as the Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami Medical Center. He was the Chief Cardiology Fellow and was honored as the Outstanding Cardiology Fellow at the Texas Heart Institute and St. Luke’s. For more than five years, Dr. Perin has served as a preceptor for several interventional cardiology technologies. He is also a clinical assistant professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Dr. Perin’s international reputation for research allowed him and Dr. Willerson to collaborate with Brazilian colleagues to conduct the world’s first clinical trial using patient’s own stem cells to treat advanced heart failure. The doctors repeated that trial – the first in the U.S. – and recently completed the first phase of the study. They expect to publish their results this year and continue with additional studies. The doctors are actively recruiting patients for other adult stem cell studies for recent heart attack patients and those with severe peripheral vascular disease.

"I ask everyone to give Dr. Perin all the assistance, encouragement and support as he takes on this major challenge. I know he will embrace this opportunity with all the passion and dedication he has shown us over these past years. I have full faith that he can help us take our clinical research to a higher level," said Dr. Willerson.