Delivering unparalleled reach and expertise for cardiovascular trials worldwide
Velocity has conducted trials that have led to 14 product approvals for heart- and cardiometabolic-related conditions
Velocity’s Cardiometabolic Council to Accelerate Research Excellence (CARE) provides high-impact operational, recruitment, and trial execution strategies for Velocity sites that conduct cardiology trials. Led by physicians with an impressive track records in medical practice and research, the Cardiology CARE Council combines a wealth of real-world disease knowledge with Velocity’s reach and innovative capabilities.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. The proliferation of heart issues — paired with patient lifestyle factors that complicate recruitment and study design — reflect an urgent need for expert-led clinical trials. Moreover, intersections among heart health and metabolic research offer promising opportunities to confront diseases affecting a growing, aging population, yet will require multidisciplinary expertise to conduct effective clinical trials.
Reach and capabilities
- 3 sites with extensive cardiology experience and capabilities
- 25+ sites that can support cardiology and cardiometabolic trials with CARE Council oversight
- World-class diversity and community engagement initiatives
- Expertise in diagnostics and device research
- Access to millions of patient lives
Cardiometabolic CARE Council Leaders
Velocity's Cardiometabolic CARE Council is led by distinguished physicians, William Cromwell, MD, FAHA, FNLA, and Steven Martin, MD, FACC. The council leverages their vast experience in heart-related medical practice and research, alongside Velocity sites and staff that have supported thousands of trials.
William Cromwell, MD, FAHA, FNLA
A thought leader in lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease for over 30 years, Dr. Cromwell is Medical Director and Principal Investigator at Velocity’s Durham, NC site. He has held executive positions for various lipid programs in cardiology institutes and practices nationwide while conducting clinical trials and teaching at universities.
Dr. Cromwell has served on scientific and consultant advisory boards for Amarin, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Esperion, Ionis, The Medicines Company, and Merck. He was also a member of the Familial Hypercholesterolemia guideline writing committee. Currently, he serves on multiple journal editorial boards focusing on cardiology and lipidology and has been published in dozens of peer-reviewed publications, books, and abstracts.
Steven Martin, MD, FACC
A cardiovascular disease expert sub-specializing in general and high-risk coronary artery interventional cardiac catheterization, Dr. Martin is Principal Investigator of Velocity’s Lincoln, NE, embedded research site at Pioneer Heart Institute. He leads the region in angioplasty and structural heart interventions. Dr. Martin also performs structural heart disease interventions, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), mitra-clip, patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure, and left atrial appendage closure using WATCHMAN device therapy.
Dr. Martin was the first person in the region to place a coronary artery stent in 1993, drug eluting stent in 2002, and trans aortic valve in 2011. As a leader in his field, he continues to study emerging therapies and is sought after to train cardiologists at centers nationwide.
Shishir Khetan, MD
Dr. Khetan specializes in diabetes, exercise stress testing, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and preventative health. In 2022, Dr. Khetan was named President of Rockville Internal Medicine Group, and was also a Regional Medical Director and Virtual Medical Director for Privia Medical Group, and serves on the Privia Health and Privia Quality Network Board of Governors.
He is listed as a Consumer Checkbook Top Doctor. Board certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. Khetan graduated from University of Maryland in College Park, MD, with a Bachelor of Science Degree and from the University of West Indies Faculty of Medicine in Kingston, Jamaica with a Doctor of Medicine degree. He completed an internal medicine internship at Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York, NY, and an internal medicine residency at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York, NY where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Khetan is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Medical Association.
A transformative model to confront the inefficiencies that plague clinical trials
1: Drug Development Technology. (2012). Clinical trial delays: America’s patient recruitment dilemma. | 2: Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development. (2013). Impact report: 89% of trials meet enrollment, but timelines slip, half of sites under-enroll. Vol. 15, No. 1. | 3: Kaitin, K. I. (2006). Fastest drug developers consistently best peers on key performance metrics. Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development Impact Report, 8(5). | 4: Hess, J. (n.d.). Web-based patient recruitment: best opportunity to accelerate clinical trials.
Cardiometabolic reach
Therapeutic capabilities
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Angina
- Aortic Stenosis
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASVCD)
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Claudication
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Diagnostic, Medical Device, Wearable, and Mobile App Studies
- Dyslipidemia
- Elevated Lipoprotein (a)
- Familial Hypercholesterolemia
- Heart Failure
- Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
- Hypercholesterolemia
- Hypertriglyceridemia
- Hypertension
- Insulin Resistance
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Observational Studies
- Outcomes Studies
- Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Peripheral Artery Disease
- Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Post Myocardial Infarction
- Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
- Statin Intolerance
- Stroke
- Venous Thromboembolism