Expanding the Boundaries of Medical Research
The next amazing medical breakthrough may be closer than you think — literally. Groundbreaking clinical trials are happening every day, right in your community, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
Jersey Shore physicians are now involved in two clinical trials for people with serious heart disease. In the short term, these trials bring the most cutting-edge medical therapies to the Medical Center. In the long term, they could help millions of people across the country.
“It’s very common for patients to mistake a heart attack for other symptoms,” says Charles Koo, M.D., a cardiac electrophysiologist with Meridian CardioVascular Network and codirector of cardiovascular research at Jersey Shore. “They may mistake it for heartburn, nausea, or other mild problems. This is a real clinical problem, because the longer patients take to get medical treatment, the less likely they are to survive.”
Charles Theodora, the first patient in the tri-state area to use the device as part of the trial, remembers this dilemma all too well. The 66-year-old Ocean husband and father of two suffered a major heart attack in early 2011.
“I had that classic denial,” he recalls. “For hours, I told myself it’s not a heart attack; it’s just indigestion, it will go away. By rights, I should have been dead. I didn’t want to go through that again. This device doesn’t just tell you you’re having a heart attack; it tells you you’re going to have a heart attack. How can you beat that?”
To prevent these dangerous clots, doctors have prescribed blood-thinning medication for many years. But previously, the only approved drug was hard on both physicians and patients.
“It’s an older medication, and it carries a lot of risk because it’s very difficult to manage,” says Ziad Abbud, M.D., codirector of cardiovascular research at Jersey Shore. “We have to closely monitor the patient’s blood levels every week. It’s a huge hassle for the patient. But for the past 40 years, it was the only option we had.”
Now, for the first time in decades, a new medication has been approved, and Jersey Shore physicians and patients played an important role. “Instead of weekly blood work, it’s a simple pill,” says Dr. Abbud. “Even more important, it improves patient outcomes.”
It’s also important to recognize that clinical trials are tightly controlled for safety. “Our clinical trials are very closely regulated,” says Dr. Abbud. “There are controls we put in place ourselves, as well as independent bodies monitoring the trial. All trials have continuous ethical and medical supervision from the hospital, the doctors, and the Food and Drug Administration.”
Albert Azar participated in the AF trial and found his concerns quickly put at ease. The 78-year-old great-grandfather and rabbi, who volunteers with Pastoral Care at Jersey Shore, developed a close relationship with Dr. Abbud and the Jersey Shore staff.
“I had some questions,” says Albert. “I asked Linda Murphy, the clinical research coordinator at Jersey Shore, ‘If I were your brother, would you tell me to do this?’ And she said, ‘Albert, if you were my husband, I would tell you to do this.’ So I did it, and I never had any problems. I’ve continued to speak with Linda for three years, and whenever I’ve had any questions at all, she has been there for me. She’s a marvelous person.”
“There can be no medical progress without clinical trials,” says Dr. Koo. “Whether it’s aspirin, penicillin, or even a pacemaker, there is a clinical trial associated with it. Medical advances have always depended on the generosity of patients and their willingness to contribute to society in a huge way. It’s amazing to be a part of it.”
Jersey Shore physicians are now involved in two clinical trials for people with serious heart disease. In the short term, these trials bring the most cutting-edge medical therapies to the Medical Center. In the long term, they could help millions of people across the country.
A Guardian Angel
One of the most exciting trials now under way tests the AngelMed® Guardian System, a new medical device that detects early warning signs of a heart attack. Patients with known heart problems would have the device surgically implanted in their chest, where it can monitor vital signs and alert patients of an impending heart attack.“It’s very common for patients to mistake a heart attack for other symptoms,” says Charles Koo, M.D., a cardiac electrophysiologist with Meridian CardioVascular Network and codirector of cardiovascular research at Jersey Shore. “They may mistake it for heartburn, nausea, or other mild problems. This is a real clinical problem, because the longer patients take to get medical treatment, the less likely they are to survive.”
Charles Theodora, the first patient in the tri-state area to use the device as part of the trial, remembers this dilemma all too well. The 66-year-old Ocean husband and father of two suffered a major heart attack in early 2011.
“I had that classic denial,” he recalls. “For hours, I told myself it’s not a heart attack; it’s just indigestion, it will go away. By rights, I should have been dead. I didn’t want to go through that again. This device doesn’t just tell you you’re having a heart attack; it tells you you’re going to have a heart attack. How can you beat that?”
Preventing Strokes
Another trial at Jersey Shore, which is now over, involved a new medication for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition that causes the heart to beat abnormally. People with AF often get blood clots, which can cause strokes. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, people with AF are four to five times more likely to have a stroke.To prevent these dangerous clots, doctors have prescribed blood-thinning medication for many years. But previously, the only approved drug was hard on both physicians and patients.
“It’s an older medication, and it carries a lot of risk because it’s very difficult to manage,” says Ziad Abbud, M.D., codirector of cardiovascular research at Jersey Shore. “We have to closely monitor the patient’s blood levels every week. It’s a huge hassle for the patient. But for the past 40 years, it was the only option we had.”
Now, for the first time in decades, a new medication has been approved, and Jersey Shore physicians and patients played an important role. “Instead of weekly blood work, it’s a simple pill,” says Dr. Abbud. “Even more important, it improves patient outcomes.”
Breaking New Ground
The idea of participating in a clinical trial may make some people nervous, but these trials often benefit the patient as much as they benefit society. “Being among the leaders in finding new therapies that are better and safer puts us in a very good position to provide our patients with the best care possible,” says Dr. Abbud.It’s also important to recognize that clinical trials are tightly controlled for safety. “Our clinical trials are very closely regulated,” says Dr. Abbud. “There are controls we put in place ourselves, as well as independent bodies monitoring the trial. All trials have continuous ethical and medical supervision from the hospital, the doctors, and the Food and Drug Administration.”
Albert Azar participated in the AF trial and found his concerns quickly put at ease. The 78-year-old great-grandfather and rabbi, who volunteers with Pastoral Care at Jersey Shore, developed a close relationship with Dr. Abbud and the Jersey Shore staff.
“I had some questions,” says Albert. “I asked Linda Murphy, the clinical research coordinator at Jersey Shore, ‘If I were your brother, would you tell me to do this?’ And she said, ‘Albert, if you were my husband, I would tell you to do this.’ So I did it, and I never had any problems. I’ve continued to speak with Linda for three years, and whenever I’ve had any questions at all, she has been there for me. She’s a marvelous person.”
Making a Difference
In the end, patients of clinical trials can rest assured that not only are they receiving leading-edge treatment, they are also taking advantage of an opportunity to help others in the future.“There can be no medical progress without clinical trials,” says Dr. Koo. “Whether it’s aspirin, penicillin, or even a pacemaker, there is a clinical trial associated with it. Medical advances have always depended on the generosity of patients and their willingness to contribute to society in a huge way. It’s amazing to be a part of it.”
Meet the Doctors
Ziad A. Abbud, M.D.
Board certified in Cardiovascular Disease & Interventional Cardiology
Neptune | 732-663-1123
Charles H. Koo, M.D.
Board certified in Cardiovascular Disease, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, & Internal Medicine
Ocean | 732-663-0300
