The Baszucki Family Biobank is a repository of vascular samples including blood and tissue aimed at advancing research on peripheral artery disease, carotid artery disease, and aneurysms. By studying these samples, researchers can uncover the causes of vascular diseases, develop new drugs and therapies, and gain insights into the genetic factors that influence vascular health. This knowledge helps create personalized treatment approaches for patients. Since 2022, we have consented and collected samples from over 500 vascular patients.

The Baszucki Family Biobank was established in the fall of 2021 with the generous support of Mr. Paul Baszucki- Here what he has to say

“The extended Baszucki Family supports a number of philanthropic health care initiatives. As a patient of Doctor Lee I witnessed a high level of dedication, skill and care combined with leading edge stent technology for an excellent outcome. I was very appreciative and wanted to support Doctor Lee in his quest for advancement of vascular health and care.”

Genomics studies and Patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are being generated to understand vascular disease mechanisms and develop better therapeutic and medical care.

The Baszucki Family Biobank has enabled transformative discoveries at the intersection of vascular biology and cardiovascular disease through integration of patient-derived samples with advanced multi-omic and stem cell–based platforms.

Key breakthroughs include:

• Endothelial-driven cardiac dysfunction in long COVID
  Using patient-derived samples and engineered vascular and cardiac tissues, we identified CCL2-mediated endothelial injury as a central driver of cardiac dysfunction in long COVID, highlighting the vasculature as a key therapeutic target.

• Patient-specific iPSC models of vascular disease
  The biobank has enabled the generation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from patients with genetic vascular disorders, including vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS), providing a platform for mechanistic studies and therapeutic screening.

• Precision modeling of vascular-cardiac interactions
  Integration of patient-derived endothelial cells with cardiac tissues has allowed us to model endothelial–cardiomyocyte crosstalk, uncovering how vascular dysfunction contributes to cardiac remodeling and disease progression.

• Genetic and computational insights into vascular disease
  Biobank-linked studies have contributed to large-scale genomic and computational analyses, identifying genetic determinants and hemodynamic drivers of aneurysm formation and vascular pathology.

Together, these advances demonstrate the power of combining clinical samples, genomics, and functional modeling to accelerate discovery and therapeutic innovation.

Featured on the cover of Cardiovascular Research Volume 3 Issue 10, October 2024. The research study explores the mechanisms of cardiac injury in long COVID, with a focus on the role of endothelial cells (ECs). Dr. Sayed and his team uncovered how cytokines released by ECs, particularly CCL2, contribute to cardiac dysfunction. Their research, utilizing advanced models like thrombotic vascular tissues and cardiac organoids, highlights the critical role of CCL2-induced oxidative stress in promoting cardiac injury. This work underscores the importance of early vascular health monitoring in long COVID patients.

The Baszucki Family Research Day is an annual event that showcases the breadth of research and academic activity within the Division of Vascular Surgery at Stanford. Supported by the Baszucki Family Vascular Surgery Biobank (BVSB), the event highlights not only biobank-driven discoveries, but also original research from faculty, fellows, and residents across the Division.