Series: ACTSI Investigators and ARRA Awards at Work

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the NIH provided stimulus grants which will lead to new discoveries, create new jobs, and provide additional educational opportunities for students. Over the next few weeks the eRoundup will review some of the ACTSI's ARRA projects.

Granulocyte-Macrophage Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) and Mobilization of Progenitor Cells in Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Phase II Randomized Study, Arshed Quyyumi, MD, Emory University

Peripheral arterial disease is a common condition in older adults involving poor arterial circulation in the legs leading to leg pain and debility. The body's own circulating blood vessel stem cells may help to improve circulation. This study will test whether treatment with the drug granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) will improve symptoms and signs of peripheral arterial disease over placebo after four weeks of therapy. The study will also examine whether improvements in blood vessel function can be observed. Finally, blood vessel function and stem cell levels will be measured in order to determine whether they can help to predict whether patients with peripheral arterial disease will suffer further cardiovascular complications.