About Farouc Jaffer, MD, PhD

Dr. Farouc Jaffer graduated from Stanford University in 1990 with a B.S. in Mathematical and Computational Sciences, and received in MD and PhD in Biophysics from the University of Pennsylvania of Medicine in 1996. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, followed by a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine and interventional cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2003, he joined the Cardiology Division as faculty.

Dr. Jaffer is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an Attending Interventional Cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.  He is Director of Coronary Intervention and Director of the Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) PCI Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. The MGH is a leading center for treating the most complex coronary blockages, such as CTO. Many patients, previously without options,  have successfully underwent CTO PCI, and have experienced marked reductions in angina (chest pain) and shortness of breath.  

Dr. Jaffer is also a Principal Investigator in the MGH Cardiovascular Research Center where his NIH-funded laboratory develops novel molecular imaging approaches to image high-risk plaques and blood clots, to better prevent heart attacks, strokes, and venous blood clots.

Clinical Interests:

Treats:

Locations

Mass General Heart Center
55 Fruit St.
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 866-644-8910

Medical Education

  • MD, Univ of Penn/School of Medicine
  • Fellowship, Massachusetts General Hospital

American Board Certifications

  • Cardiovascular Disease, American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Interventional Cardiology, American Board of Internal Medicine

Accepted Insurance Plans

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Research

We are developing new approaches to image high-risk plaques (narrowings, blockages) that cause myocardial infarction (heart attacks). Imaging of high-risk ("vulnerable") coronary plaques could ultimately help prevent heart attacks from occurring.

Specifically, we are developing new intravascular optical (near-infrared fluorescence) imaging catheters to visualize inflammation in plaques. Inflammation is a key driver of plaque ruptures and heart attacks. Novel molecular imaging catheters are undergoing bench and experimental testing. Our goal is to translate these technologies to patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), with the goal of identifying inflamed high-risk plaques. Eventually identifying these plaques may allow us to pre-emptively treat them prior to rupture and heart attack.

 

Publications

  • Select Publications:

    • Jaffer FA, et al. Real-time Catheter Molecular Sensing of Inflammation in Proteolytically Active Atherosclerosis. Circulation 2008; 118:1802-9.
    • Calfon MA, Vinegoni C, Ntziachristos V, Jaffer FA. Intravascular Near-infrared Fluorescence Molecular Imaging of Atherosclerosis: Towards Coronary Arterial Visualization of Biologically High-Risk Plaques. Journal of Biomedical Optics (Jan. 14, 2010).
    • Sabatine MS, Jaffer FA, et al. A 32-Year-Old Woman, 3 Weeks Postpartum, with Substernal Chest Pain. New England Journal of Medicine 2010; 363:1164-1173.

     

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