Understanding the many complex cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying human vascular diseases is essential in improving the treatment of this important and wide-ranging group of diseases that affect a large proportion of the world po- lation. This book is based on lectures presented at an International Vascular Biology Workshop held in London and chaired by Professor Dame Carol Black. The c- tents are complemented by some invited chapters, all written by world experts in areas of basic science and clinical medicine highly relevant to vascular biology and disease. We are particularly grateful to Professor Arshed Quyyumi, Professor of Medicine and Cardiology at Emory University, who with his research group and clinical colleagues, has provided a substantial contribution to this book. In common with our previous book - Vascular Complications in Human Disease: Mechanisms and Consequences published by Springer in 2008, our aim with this book is to highlight some of the established relationships between basic science and clinical medicine, and to outline new and exciting fields of research and practice in vascular biology and pathobiology. There are two sections: Basic Science of Vascular Biology and Clinical Aspects of Vascular Biology. In the first section, dealing with basic science, we have included three important growth areas: "Genetics and Gene Therapy" cover approaches to gene therapy and delivery systems, "Animal Models to Study Vascular Disease" with chapters on animal models of scleroderma, animal models of atherosclerosis, and finally on the endothelin system.

Arterial disease and inflammation are fundamental causes of many medical conditions. Recently, there have been several major advances in our understanding of the causes of diseases affecting the heart, lungs, kidneys, skin and blood vessels. The role of endothelium derived growth factors, nitric oxide and other messengers in vascular disease has been more clearly defined. New treatments targeting these molecular disorders are being used with beneficial effects. Further progress depends on a combined approach embracing basic and clinical research so that treatments of common, important diseases can be designed intelligently and logically.Vascular Complications in Human Disease presents our understanding of vascular disease, in reviews of the main strands of basic and clinical research written by leading international experts. It also identifies routes for further fruitful research and development. This concise and carefully edited book, avoiding repetition, includes the full spectrum of basic research which is not covered in other textbooks.

Translational medicine underpins vascular medicine. It is fundamental to understanding how we treat patients with vascular disease and more importantly, how to prevent it. It is the rationale for drug design and production. Vascular medicine and translational medicine will take over and become the main reason for referring patients to hospital. Therefore, hospital-based clinicians working with basic scientists need to know about translational medicine, which educates and informs them about vascular medicine and how management should be based. This book is a primer for translational vascular medicine and discusses the evolving and exciting areas of basic science applied to vascular medicine. The book is based on the third vascular biology conference held at The Royal College of Physicians in 2008. It provides a large amount of new basic and clinical information and the contributors are world leaders.

Understanding the many complex cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying human vascular diseases is essential in improving the treatment of this important and wide-ranging group of diseases that affect a large proportion of the world po- lation. This book is based on lectures presented at an International Vascular Biology Workshop held in London and chaired by Professor Dame Carol Black. The c- tents are complemented by some invited chapters, all written by world experts in areas of basic science and clinical medicine highly relevant to vascular biology and disease. We are particularly grateful to Professor Arshed Quyyumi, Professor of Medicine and Cardiology at Emory University, who with his research group and clinical colleagues, has provided a substantial contribution to this book. In common with our previous book - Vascular Complications in Human Disease: Mechanisms and Consequences published by Springer in 2008, our aim with this book is to highlight some of the established relationships between basic science and clinical medicine, and to outline new and exciting fields of research and practice in vascular biology and pathobiology. There are two sections: Basic Science of Vascular Biology and Clinical Aspects of Vascular Biology. In the first section, dealing with basic science, we have included three important growth areas: "Genetics and Gene Therapy" cover approaches to gene therapy and delivery systems, "Animal Models to Study Vascular Disease" with chapters on animal models of scleroderma, animal models of atherosclerosis, and finally on the endothelin system.