Research Summary
The focus of Dr. Weiss' research is the development of Bariatric Embolization, a new, minimally invasive endovascular approach for the treatment of Obesity. Dr. Weiss is the PI or co-PI on a number of pre clinical grants relating to this work, and is the co-PI of the BEAT Obesity trial.
Dr. Weiss' research has also focused on research related to his clinical practice including the development and implementation Interventional MRI techniques, improving the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes assessment for patients with vascular malformations (including HHT and pulmonary AVM), and the interventional treatment of Pulmonary Ebolism (including IVC filtration).
Dr. Weiss has mentored many Undergraduate and Masters CBID teams, and has advised on the design and development of numerous devices related to Vascular and Interventional Radiology, with a particular focus on vascular access and hemodialysis.
Dr. Weiss serves as an advisor to the Johns Hopkins Art as Applied to Medicine Program. Some examples of mentored graduate student work are listed below - please click on the hyperlinks to "experience" the content:
Embolization of Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations - An animation by JHU graduate student Caitlin Mock to educate patients on PAVMs. Dr. Weiss served as content advisor for this project.
Clinical Trial Keywords
Obesity; Morbid Obesity; Bariatric Embolization; Bariatric Arterial Embolization; Weight Management; Endovascular Therapy
Clinical Trials
Bariatric Embolization of Arteries for the Treatment of Obesity (BEAT Obesity) Trial
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of bariatric embolization as a minimally-invasive image-guided procedure for morbid obesity. In this procedure, specific blood vessels to the stomach are blocked in order to suppress some of the body's signals for feeling hungry, leading to weight loss.
Morbid obesity is currently treated with diet and exercise, medications, and surgery. This study is designed to help treat obesity using a minimally invasive, non-surgical, angiographic (through the blood vessel) approach. This procedure is similar to a common procedure used to treat bleeding within the stomach. This version of the procedure has been named "bariatric embolization".
Although there are over 40 hormones that limit food intake, there is only one hormone, ghrelin that has been shown to stimulate (prompt) food intake. In obese patients, eating fails to suppress ghrelin levels, which is believed to prevent feeling full after a meal and to lead to overeating. Due to the strong hunger craving effects of ghrelin, this hormone has been a target for the treatment of obesity and weight loss. More recently, ghrelin has been shown to have a significant role in the long-term effect of weight loss in bariatric (obesity) surgery where ghrelin levels are shown to be much lower when compared to untreated patients.
Recent data collected in animals has shown that blocking blood vessels to a particular portion of the stomach (bariatric embolization) can temporarily decrease levels of the appetite inducing hormone ghrelin, and decrease short-term weight gain. In a study of 5 people, there was a decrease in ghrelin levels and weight loss in the first 6 months after the procedure, but there is no information about the effects of the procedure over longer periods of time.
We hope to learn if bariatric embolization results in safe and effective weight loss in people who are morbidly obese.
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