September 2021 – Dr. Dianna Milewicz, Alana Cecchi, Bella Marin, and Ellen Hostetler discuss the latest advances and research discoveries related to thoracic aortic dissection.
The John Ritter Research Program seeks to uncover the genetic factors that cause some people to have a higher risk of developing thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. Identifying the genes responsible for thoracic aortic disease will increase early diagnosis, improve management of the condition, and save lives by preventing aortic dissections. Currently, only 30% of the genes that can cause thoracic aortic disease are known. In collaboration with The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, Dr. Dianna Milewicz established The John Ritter Research Program in Aortic and Vascular Diseases at UTHealth in 2010. As of 2023, over 1500 families are enrolled in this groundbreaking genetic research study. Learn more about the John Ritter Research Program and how you can contribute to a better understanding of the causes of thoracic aortic dissection.
Dianna M. Milewicz, M.D., Ph.D., is the President George H.W. Bush Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine, Director of the Division of Medical Genetics and Vice-Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). She is the Director of the John Ritter Research Program and serves as the chair of The John Ritter Foundation’s Professional Advisory Board.