SUMMARY
R. Scott Wright, M.D., conducts research on acute coronary syndrome, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and valvular heart disease. His additional interests include healthcare policy and clinical trials.
Dr. Wright's ongoing research in renal failure associated with acute coronary syndrome has led to the publication of numerous peer-reviewed journal articles. He also has advised members of Congress on healthcare reform and served on multiple national and international steering committees for randomized clinical trials evaluating new cardiovascular therapies.
Focus areas
As an international leader and investigator in clinical trials and database studies, Dr. Wright's research focuses on topics such as:
- Convalescent plasma for the treatment of COVID-19.
- Cardiac involvement in COVID-19.
- Renal failure in acute coronary syndrome. This research led to one of the most widely cited papers in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
- The role of statins, troponins and modulators of the inflammatory-atherothrombotic cascade in acute coronary syndrome.
- Phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials of new lipid-lowering therapies, including the pivotal ORION program evaluating inclisiran.
- Pleiotropic effects of statins in acute coronary syndrome through translational investigations in the Mayo Clinic coronary care unit.
- PRINCESS and CRISP, two international randomized trials evaluating early statin therapy following myocardial infarction and in the presence of inflammation, respectively.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Wright's research aims to better understand heart conditions such as acute coronary syndrome, high cholesterol and diabetes. By learning more about how these diseases work at a deeper level, he hopes to develop new ways to diagnose and treat them — and help patients live healthier lives.
His work has led to new tools and treatments that healthcare professionals use to care for patients. It also has helped improve how healthcare teams understand recovery and long-term outcomes in people with heart disease.
Professional highlights
- Co-principal investigator, Expanded Access to Convalescent Plasma for the Treatment of Patients With COVID-19, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2020-present.
- Honorary member, Chilean Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2018-present.
- Mayo Clinic:
- Associate editor, Cardiovascular Diseases, Proceedings editorial board, 2018-present.
- Director, Human Research Protection Program, 2017-present.
- Senior chair, Institutional Review Board, 2017-present
- ORION:
- Member, Executive steering committee, ORION-4: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial Assessing the Effects of Inclisiran on Clinical Outcomes Among People With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, 2015-present.
- Member, Executive steering committee, ORION-9: Inclisiran in Patients With Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia, 2015-present.
- Member, Executive steering committee, ORION-11: Inclisiran in Patients With ASCVD or ASCVD Risk Equivalents, 2015-present.
- Principal investigator, ORION-10: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effect of Inclisiran on LDL-C in Patients With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, 2015-present.
- Fellow, American Heart Association, 2009-present.
- Fellow, European Society of Cardiology, 2003-present.
- Fellow, American College of Cardiology, 1997-present.
- Member, Zumbro Valley Medical Society, 1992-present.
- Member, Dalcetrapib Outcomes Trials Phases 1/2, Roche, 2007-2015.
- Member, Minnesota Health Care Transformation Task Force, 2007-2008.
- Governor, Minnesota Chapter, American College of Cardiology, 2005-2008.