Melina R. Kibbe, M.D.

Melina Kibbe’s research interests focus on developing novel therapies for patients with vascular disease while simultaneously studying the mechanism of how these therapies impact the vascular wall. She is currently PI on 3 NIH R01 awards and 1 VA Merit award, in addition to serving as co-Investigator on several other NIH awards to evaluate novel therapies for patients with peripheral arterial disease. Currently funded projects include developing a novel biodegradable drug-eluting liquid cast stent, developing a new methodology to treat atherosclerosis by reducing plaque burden, investigating the role of resident adventitial progenitor cells in the vasculature, developing and evaluating an endothelial progenitor cell-derived bioengineered ePTFE graft, and developing highly innovative, targeted therapeutics to prevent restenosis following cardiovascular interventions, among others. She has also served as the national PI or site PI of many gene and cell-based clinical trials for patients with critical limb ischemia. She holds 10 patents or provisional patents. Her research was recognized by President Obama with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2009.