Dr. McCaffrey’s research interests include cardiovascular disease, genomics, and stem cells. Dr. McCaffrey’s research is focused on cardiovascular disease, with special interest in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease by changes in the RNA transcriptome in whole blood. Using RNA sequencing of whole blood, his team has identified unique patterns with strong predictive ability for coronary artery disease. This RNA biomarker panel is in the process of validation for FDA clearance for a clinical test for CAD in patients presenting with chest pain, or other indications of CAD. In related work, a similar approach has identified RNA biomarkers of appendicitis, which appears in some cases to be due to biofilm infections of the appendix. The RNA biomarkers are sensitive indicators of activation of the circulating neutrophils, and this could have numerous uses in detecting biofilm infections. Other infections, such as pneumonia, activates another group of neutrophil markers that can detect a variety of infections in internal organs.
Coronary Artery Disease, Cardiovascular, Genomics, Biomarkers, Appendicitis, Biofilms, T regulatory cells, Transcript Profiling, RNA sequencing, Laboratory Developed Tests, Genomics , Infectious Diseases
- RNAseq: purification and analysis of RNA
- Collect blood samples
- Identify patients at risk for coronary artery disease