Jen BadieAbout Rajabrata Sarkar, MD, PhD
Rajabrata Sarkar is an expert in treating blood vessel disorders and a nationally known researcher in blood vessel growth and resolution of deep vein thrombosis. He came to the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2009 when he was named the Barbara Baur Dunlap Professor of Surgery and Physiology as well as chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery. In the Department of Surgery, Sarkar served as vice chair for clinical operations from 2015 to 2017 and interim chair from 2017 to 2019. Since 2022, he has been the department’s executive vice chair. He is a partner in the medical technology startup MDC Studio and a co-founder of Vascular Rescue, Inc., part of the MDC Studio portfolio.
Impact
Vascular Rescue is developing a novel prototype device for semiautomated central venous cannulation and emergency arterial cannulation that has the potential to expedite emergency care and reduce complications in critically ill patients. Sarkar also is an inventor on four issued U.S. patents ranging from molecular therapy for vascular remodeling to novel emergency vascular devices. His device development work includes electroporation for repair of vascular injuries and wearable sensors for early detection of hemorrhage. Sarkar’s inventions have focused on two areas: drugs that help with vascular problems that cannot be fixed with surgery, such as a drug that accelerates the shrinkage of a blood clot in the vein, and devices that use automation and sensing to help nonexpert doctors execute the procedures in a safer manner.
Quotes
“Large catheters have to be placed into central veins 5 to 7 million times a year in the United States. This is a common yet hazardous procedure essential for life-saving therapy in intensive care units and emergency rooms. Our device allows a less experienced user to automatically place these catheters in a faster and safer manner.”
— Sarkar, speaking about the automated vascular access device
“He is dedicated to discovery and moving his research out of the lab and into the marketplace, he engages in and champions the University’s entrepreneurial initiatives, and he is an active participant in the Baltimore region’s innovation community. His prior experience advancing med-tech devices will be invaluable as he works to commercialize his automated vascular access device.”
— James L. Hughes, MBA, UMB’s chief enterprise and economic development officer and senior vice president
