George  A.  Beller
Degree(s): MD
Graduate School: University of Virginia
Primary Appointment: Professor, Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine
Research Interests:
Radionuclide Imaging Agents for Cardiac Imaging
Website: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/cardiofellows/research/CVResearch/beller8-08.cfm
Email Address: gab4c@virginia.edu

Research Description

Dr. Beller and his collaborators are engaged in the development and validation of radionuclide imaging agents for assessment of patients with suspected or known cardiovascular disease. They are focused on the noninvasive detection of myocardial ischemia with stress myocardial perfusion imaging for identifying high risk patients who would benefit from coronary revascularization. They have the ability to test new imaging agents in the experimental laboratory and take them to the clinical setting. Dr. Beller and his research collaborators are particularly interested in the role of imaging in diabetic patients and are determining whether vasodilator stress perfusion imaging with cardiac magnetic resonance technology is superior to SPECT perfusion imaging in identifying abnormal coronary blood flow reserve. Another area of interest is detecting myocardial viability in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction using radionuclide imaging techniques. In addition, the imaging of cardiac sympathetic nervous system activity with I-123-labeled MIBG in patients with heart failure to identify those most prone to cardiac death is a keen interest of the clinical imaging laboratory. Molecular imaging of vulnerable plaques presently focused in the basic laboratory will be applied to patient studies in the coming years.


Selected Publications
  • Glover DK, Ruiz M, Takehana K, Petruzella FD, Rieger JM, Macdonald TL, Watson DD, Linden J, Beller GA. Cardioprotection by Adenosine A2A Agonists in a Canine Model of Myocardial Stunning Produced by Multiple Episodes of Transient Ischemia. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2007 Jun;292(6):H3164-71.
  • Yang Z, Linden J, Berr SS, Kron IL, Beller GA, French BA Timing of adenosine 2A receptor stimulation relative to reperfusion has differential effects on infarct size and cardiac function as assessed in mice by MRI. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2008 Dec;295(6):H2328-35. Epub 2008 Oct 10.
  • Glover DK, Riou LM, Ruiz M, Sullivan GW, Linden J, Rieger JM, Macdonald TL, Watson DD, Beller GA: Reduction of infarct size and postischemic inflammation from ATL-146e, a highly selective adenosine A2A receptor agonist, in reperfused canine myocardium. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 288(4):H1851-H1858, 2005. Epub Dec. 9, 2004.
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      Office Address: PO Box 800158 Hospital Expansion Bldg., 4030 1215 Lee Str, 
      Office Phone: +1 434-924-2134, +1 434-982-0853
      Fax Phone: +1 434-982-1998

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