Overview
Research:
My primary research interest is in conduct and methodology of large randomized clinical trials in heart disease. I have led a number of large international clinical studies in heart attacks, unstable angina, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. I have lead clinical studies of blood thinners and coronary intervention for heart attacks, stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, and prevention of heart attack for patients with coronary artery disease. I have been co-director of the Reperfusion of Acute MI in Carolina Emergency Departments (RACE) project that is a North Carolina state-wide program to improve reperfusion care for acute myocardial infarction. I serve as the Chairman of the American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline program to improve heart attack care nationally as well as the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guideline committee for heart attack care. I have also studied the effects of genetic variation on heart disease. I work with the National Institute of Health and the Federal Drug Administration on evaluation of heart disease and of new drugs. I have developed tools to predict which patients are at risk for death, heart attack, and need for hospitalization.
My primary research interest is in conduct and methodology of large randomized clinical trials in heart disease. I have led a number of large international clinical studies in heart attacks, unstable angina, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. I have lead clinical studies of blood thinners and coronary intervention for heart attacks, stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, and prevention of heart attack for patients with coronary artery disease. I have been co-director of the Reperfusion of Acute MI in Carolina Emergency Departments (RACE) project that is a North Carolina state-wide program to improve reperfusion care for acute myocardial infarction. I serve as the Chairman of the American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline program to improve heart attack care nationally as well as the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guideline committee for heart attack care. I have also studied the effects of genetic variation on heart disease. I work with the National Institute of Health and the Federal Drug Administration on evaluation of heart disease and of new drugs. I have developed tools to predict which patients are at risk for death, heart attack, and need for hospitalization.
Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations
Fred Cobb, M.D. Distinguished Professor of Medicine
·
2024 - Present
Medicine, Cardiology,
Medicine
Professor of Medicine
·
2007 - Present
Medicine, Cardiology,
Medicine
Professor in the School of Nursing
·
2015 - Present
School of Nursing
Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute
·
1988 - Present
Duke Clinical Research Institute,
Institutes and Centers
Recent Scholarly Works
DOAC score among patients receiving Vitamin K antagonists.
Journal article Am Heart J · November 2026 BACKGROUND: The direct acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) score is a bleeding risk score that incorporates 10 common clinical variables to risk stratify major bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation and demonstrated improved risk stratification compare ... Full text Link to item CiteThe effect of zalunfiban on high sensitivity cardiac troponin and the association with clinical outcomes in patients with STEMI.
Journal article Am Heart J · November 2026 BACKGROUND: Among individuals with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a single subcutaneous injection of the short-acting glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blocker antagonist zalunfiban at first medical contact significantly improved the prim ... Full text Link to item CitePredictors of ischemic stroke and major bleeding among patients with atrial fibrillation in clinical practice.
Journal article Am Heart J · October 2026 BACKGROUND: Numerous risk scores exist to quantify the risk of ischemic stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF/AFL). However, how these tools perform in cohorts or those already on oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy is unclear. MET ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
KARDIA-6 CVOT SUA
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals · 2025 - 2031Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) - NHLBI
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 2018 - 2028MarTide DMC
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Amgen, Inc. · 2025 - 2027View All Grants
Education
University of Connecticut ·
1984
M.D.