Gary L. Schaer, MD

Gary L. Schaer, MD, is professor of medicine and director, cardiology research at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. He is a graduate of Yale University School of Medicine and was a medical resident at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. He completed a cardiology fellowship at Georgetown University and a critical care medicine fellowship at the National Institutes of Health.

Before joining the Section of Cardiology at Rush in 1989, he was an assistant professor of medicine and director of the Cardiovascular Research Laboratory at Georgetown University.



Schaer's research focuses on regenerative medicine: using stem cells to treat various heart diseases including congestive heart failure due to a prior heart attack, severe coronary artery disease with frequent chest pain, and a weakened heart muscle following a recent heart attack. As director of cardiology research, Schaer and his colleagues are currently enrolling patients in several important drug, device and stem cell trials. Please visit the Cardiovascular Disease Trials page for more information on currently enrolling research studies.  
 
Schaer has authored or coauthored more than 200 original articles, book chapters, editorials and abstracts. He is a sought-after lecturer on regenerative medicine, acute coronary syndromes and other topics in interventional heart and vascular disease in the Chicago region, nationally and internationally. He serves on the board of trustees of the American Heart Association (Midwest Affiliate) and the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.

Schaer's Current Clinical Trials

RENEW: Stem Cell Study: For patients with frequent chest pain due to chronic coronary artery disease who continue to have symptoms despite best possible medical therapy, angioplasty, stenting and/or bypass surgery.

PreSERVE: Stem Cell Study: For patients who have had a large heart attack within the past five to seven days.

ixCELL-DCM: Stem Cell Study: For patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) due to a prior heart attack or coronary artery disease (ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy).