Physician Investigator (Cl) Cardiovascular Research Center, Mass General Research Institute

Professor of Medicine Harvard Medical School

Physician Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital

MD Stanford University School of Medicine 1982

angiosarcoma; aortic stenosis; cardiac resynchronization therapy; cardiology; dobutamine; echocardiography; echocardiography doppler; echocardiography stress; echocardiography three-dimensional; echocardiography transesophageal; mitral valve; mitral valve insufficiency; mitral valve regurgitation; ventricular dysfunction left; ventricular function left

Dr. Picard's research interests include the novel applications of echocardiography in coronary artery disease, translational cardiology and valvular heart disease. A major goal has been to understand the effects of myocardial ischemia on remodeling or geometric changes of the left ventricle.

His research group has developed novel methods to display and quantitate LV geometry using two and three dimensional echocardiography. These have been used to assess the various factors responsible for this adverse process.

Most recently he and his research team have been using genetically modified mice and novel ultrasound techniques to determine which molecular pathways exert important control on LV remodeling in both coronary artery and in pressure overload states.

In addition, Dr. Picard is recognized as an international authority on Arrhythmogenic RV Dysplasia.

He has also been a leader in the use of real time echocardiographic imaging for percutaneous cardiac interventions such as percutaneous valve repair and replacement techniques, ASD and PFO device closures and alcohol septal reduction theraphy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He also directs the echocardiography core labs for several National Institute of Health clinical research trials.