Stanford Vascular Surgery Celebrates Research and Innovation at 2026 Paul Baszucki Biobank Research Day

2026 Paul Baszucki Biobank Research Day

The Stanford Division of Vascular Surgery hosted the Paul Baszucki Vascular Surgery Biobank Research Day on September 21–22, 2026, bringing together faculty, trainees, researchers, and collaborators to highlight ongoing advances in vascular disease research and celebrate the continued growth of the Paul Baszucki Biobank. 

This year’s event featured Stanford Vascular Surgery alumnus Mohamed Zayed, MD, PhD, MBA, Professor of Surgery, Radiology, and Molecular Cell Biology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, as visiting professor. Dr. Zayed completed his integrated vascular surgery residency at Stanford and has since built a multidisciplinary research program spanning peripheral artery disease, atherosclerosis, vascular inflammation, aneurysmal disease, biomarker discovery, medical devices, and surgical innovation. 

Dr. Zayed opened the program with a presentation titled “Beyond the ABI: Redefining the Diagnosis and Biology of Peripheral Artery Disease.” The day continued with presentations from Stanford faculty representing vascular surgery, cardiovascular medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, and related research programs, followed by a tour of the Paul Baszucki Biobank laboratory. Fellows, residents, postdoctoral scholars, and researchers also presented their work, providing an opportunity to share emerging research and foster collaboration across disciplines. 

The two-day program concluded with Dr. Zayed presenting at Stanford Department of Surgery Grand Rounds on “Operating at the Intersection: Surgery, Science, Engineering, and Entrepreneurship,” reflecting the multidisciplinary approach at the center of his work and the broader goals of the Research Day. 

Advancing the Paul Baszucki Biobank

Established with the support of Paul Baszucki and the Baszucki family, the Paul Baszucki Vascular Surgery Biobank is building an infrastructure for collecting, processing, and studying blood and tissue specimens from patients with vascular disease. Since December 2022, the program has consented patients and banked samples from more than 700 patients treated for a wide range of vascular surgical conditions. 

Researchers are using patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells, genomics, proteomics, and other approaches to better understand the mechanisms underlying vascular diseases and ultimately support the development of more personalized therapies and patient care. The program focuses on conditions including aortic aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease, and carotid artery disease. 

The Biobank has also continued to expand its research infrastructure, including equipment for specimen storage, genomic analysis, nucleic acid extraction, spectrophotometry, and real-time PCR. Its growing research program has contributed to numerous publications and abstracts spanning vascular disease, genetics, stem cell research, cardiovascular biology, and clinical outcomes. 

Stanford Vascular Surgery Division Chief Jason Lee, MD, thanked the Baszucki family for their continued support of the program, including the renewal of their commitment to the Biobank through 2029.

“The establishment and continued development of the Paul Baszucki Vascular Surgery Biobank at Stanford remains today one of my personal academic highlights,” Lee said. 

Lee also emphasized that the program is a collaborative effort involving vascular surgeons, scientists, fellows, clinical staff, and Biobank staff, with the goal of using technologies including induced pluripotent stem cells and single-cell analysis alongside surgical outcomes and vascular imaging to better understand patient-specific mechanisms of vascular disease.

The annual Research Day provides an opportunity to showcase that work while connecting investigators and trainees across disciplines. With continued support from the Baszucki family, the Biobank aims to expand its research capabilities and translate discoveries into new approaches to understanding, preventing, and treating vascular disease.

Learn more about the Paul Baszucki Vascular Surgery Biobank: Stanford Vascular Surgery Biobank