Research & Clinical Trials
Saving Lives Through Cardiac Research
Since 2002, Torrance Memorial Medical Center has been at the forefront of cardiovascular research. Led by Mark D. Lurie, MD, medical director of the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute, Torrance Memorial's cardiovascular research team has participated in approximately 35 cardiac studies.
Over the years, Torrance Memorial has participated in research partnerships with several prestigious institutions and organizations, including Harvard University, Duke University, and the American Heart Association. The results of each cardiovascular study conducted at Torrance Memorial have been published in peer-reviewed medical journals and have played an important role in advancing and improving cardiovascular care.
Access to Innovative Treatments
In addition to advancing the field of cardiovascular medicine, participating in cardiovascular research allows the specialists at Torrance Memorial to offer new, life-changing treatment options to patients who are living with a variety of cardiovascular conditions. Research topics have included:
- Heart failure
- Atrial fibrillation (A-fib)
- Anticoagulation (blood thinning) medications
- Cardiac stents
- Unstable angina
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Cholesterol
- Type 2 diabetes
Torrance Memorial participated in two breakthrough studies, called PROVE-IT and IMPROVE-IT, that aimed to find the most effective medications for lowering LDL cholesterol. These two studies had a significant impact on treatment protocols for elevated cholesterol.
Although some studies look at the effectiveness of medications, other studies focus on the non-pharmacologic treatments. For example, the Torrance Memorial research team - which includes six physicians, a nurse practitioner, and several research assistants - has participated in studies measuring the benefits of exercise in heart failure treatment and the use of bioabsorbable stents compared to standard stent treatment.
In the future, Torrance Memorial plans to continue expanding its cardiovascular clinical trial offerings, so it can provide the latest cardiovascular treatments to South Bay residents. As a result of Torrance Memorial's partnership with Cedars-Sinai, Torrance Memorial patients will now have access to even more clinical trials and state-of-the-art cardiovascular care.
