Thomas R. Cimato MD, PhD
Thomas R. Cimato
MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Cardiac pharmacology; Cardiology; Cardiopulmonary physiology; Cardiovascular Disease; Critical Care Medicine
Professional Summary:
I care for patients with a wide variety of heart problems including congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, valvular disease, and arrhythmias. My specialty is the diagnosis and treatment of systolic and diastolic congestive heart failure. I integrate information from multiple cardiac diagnostic studies to coordinate treatment for my patients with interventional cardiologists, heart rhythm specialists and heart surgeons. I am trained as an Advanced Heart Failure specialist and I am experienced in the treatment of patients with cardiac transplants and ventricular assist devices.
I am available to patients at the Great Lakes Cardiovascular offices in Amherst NY, the Buffalo General Medical Center Cardiology Clinic, and on the Cardiology inpatient services in the Buffalo General Medical Center (BGMC).
In the Cardiac Care Unit I oversee patients with acute congestive heart failure, most often after myocardial infarction. In the outpatient clinics I manage medical and device therapy for heart failure and perform cardiopulmonary stress testing to identify patients who need advanced heart failure therapies including left ventricular assist devices or cardiac transplantation.
I am involved in multi-center clinical trials in treatment of heart failure. I study the role of hematopoietic system and inflammation in repair of heart attacks and the failing heart via my own independent research, and in collaboration with pharmaceutical firms. I am a peer reviewer for several leading journals in Cardiology, and review research grant applications for the NIH and American Heart Association.
I teach and supervise Internal Medicine residents and Cardiology Fellows in all facets of my clinical practice: during inpatient hospital care in the Cardiac Care Unit, while interpreting cardiac imaging studies, and in my outpatient practice. I also teach and mentor young scientists involved in research.
Education and Training:
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Stem Cell Biology, National Institutes of Health (2007)
- Fellowship, Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (2006)
- Fellowship, Cardiovascular Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (2006)
- Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System (2002)
- PhD, Biochemistry, University at Buffalo (1999)
- MD, University at Buffalo (1999)
- BS, University at Buffalo, Cum Laude (1992)
Employment:
- Associate Professor, Medicine, University at Buffalo (2016-present)
- Adjunct Member, Cell Stress Biology-Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (2015-present)
- Assistant Professor, Medicine, University at Buffalo (2010–2016)
- Research Assistant Professor, Cardiology, University at Buffalo (2007–2010)
- Assistant Clinical Investigator, National Heart Lung and Blood, and Human Genome Research Institutes, National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Health Intramural Research Program (2006–2007)
- Clinical Fellow, Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation, Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (2005–2006)
- NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Health (2004–2006)
- Clinical Fellow, Cardiology, Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2002–2005)
- Resident, University of Pennsylvania, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (2000–2002)
- Intern, Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania (1999–2000)
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University at Buffalo (1992–1999)
Awards and Honors:
- Castle Connolly: America‘s Top Doctors (2017)
- American Heart Association Research Administration Recognition Award (2016)
- Finalist, Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis & Vascular Biology Council Award for Outstanding Research by an Early Career Investigator (2013)
- University at Buffalo, Outstanding Laboratory-based Research (2013)
- Fellow-American Heart Association (2011)
- Most Read Articles in Circulation Journal-Molecular Cardiology (2010)
- Fellow-American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (2009)
- Finalist, Northwestern Cardiovascular Young Investigator's Forum (2008)
- Fellow-American College of Cardiology (2008)
- Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare (2001)
- Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research (1995)
- First Place-University at Buffalo School of Medicine Research Forum (1993)
- First Place-University at Buffalo School of Medicine Research Forum (1992)
- Early Admission Program-University at Buffalo School of Medicine (1990)
Research Expertise:
- Atherosclerosis and vascular biology
- Cardiovascular Stem Cell Therapy
- Heart Failure
Research Centers:
- Center for Research in Cardiovascular Medicine
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- November 2019–November 2020
Mobilization of Hematopoietic Progenitors with a Novel Agent
Bristol Myers Squibb
Role: Principal Investigator - March 2016–March 2019
The Mae Stone Goode Charitable Trust
Role: Principal Investigator
$100,000 - April 2017–March 2018
Center for AIDS Research Pilot Grant
NIH/NIAID, University of Rochester CFAR
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
$15,350 - June 2014–January 2018
Clinical Trial: Efficacy and Safety of LCZ696 Compared to Valsartan, on Morbidity and Mortality in Heart Failure Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction (PARAGON-HF)
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Role: Co-Investigator - September 2014–August 2017
National Institutes of Health/NIDCR:Effect of COMT genetic polymorphisms on response to propranolol therapy in TMD
National Institutes of Health/NIDCR
Role: Co-Investigator - July 2014–July 2015
University at Buffalo Translational Studies Pilot FundSenescence As a Stimulus for Inflammation in Heart Failure
University at Buffalo
Role: Principal Investigator
$20,776 - July 2010–June 2014
American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant
American Heart Association
Role: Principal Investigator
$231,000 - September 2013–February 2014
Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibition With Tadalafil Changes Outcomes in Heart Failure (PITCH-HF)
National Institutes of Health/NHLBI
Role: Contributor - January 2009–December 2012
NYSTEM, IDEA in Stem Cell Research. Modification of Resident Cardiac Stem Cells by Circulating Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
NYSTEM
Role: Co-Investigator - July 2007–June 2008
New York State Stem Cell Science Institutional Support Pilot Project Award
NYSTEM
Role: Co-Principal Investigator - September 2016
Clinical Trial: The Effect of Dapagliflozin on the Incidence of Worsening Heart Failure or Cardiovascular Death in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
Astra Zeneca
Role: Principal Investigator
Journal Articles:
- Cimato TR, Palka BA. Fractalkine (CX3CL1), GM-CSF and VEGF-a levels are reduced by statins in adult patients. Clin Transl Med. 2014; 3.
- Cimato TR, Palka BA, Young RF. LDL Cholesterol Modulates Human CD34 HSPCs through Effects on Proliferation and the IL-17 G-CSF Axis PLOS One. 2013; 8(8).
- Cimato T, Beers J, Ding S, Ma M, McCoy JP, Boehm M, Nabel EG, Cimato TR. Neuropilin-1 identifies endothelial precursors in human and murine embryonic stem cells before CD34 expression. Circulation. 2009; 119(16).
- DAPA-HF Investigators. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction New England Journal of Medicine. 2019; 381(21).
- PARAGON-HF Investigators. Angiotensin-Neprilysin Inhibition in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction New England Journal of Medicine. 2019; 381(17).
- Gordon JH, LaMonte MJ, Zhao J, Genco RJ, Cimato TR, Hovey KM, Allison MA, Mouton CP, Wactawski-Wende J. Association of Periodontal Disease and Edentulism With Hypertension Risk in Postmenopausal Women. Am J Hypertens. 2019; 32(2).
- Cimato TR, Conway A, Nichols J, Wallace PK. CD133 expression in circulating hematopoietic progenitor cells. Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2019; 96(1).
- Gordon JH, LaMonte MJ, Genco RJ, Zhao J, Cimato TR, Hovey KM, Wactawski-Wende J. Association of clinical measures of periodontal disease with blood pressure and hypertension among postmenopausal women. J Periodontol. 2018.
- Sharma UC, W Mosleh, MR Chaudhari, R Katkar, B Weil, C Evelo, TR Cimato, S Pokharel, WM Blenkesteijn, G Suzuki.. Myocardial and serum galectin-3 expression dynamics marks post-myocardial infarction cardiac remodeling.. Heart Lung Circulation. 2017; 26(7).
- Cimato TR. Biological Age and Circulating Progenitor Cell Levels as Predictors Heart Disease Events. Circulation Research. 2017; 120(7).
- Sharma UC, Mosleh W, Chaudhari MR, Katkar R, Weil B, Evelo C, Cimato TR, Pokharel S, Blankesteijn WM, Suzuki G. Myocardial and Serum Galectin-3 Expression Dynamics Marks Post-Myocardial Infarction Cardiac Remodelling. Heart Lung Circ. 2016.
- Cimato TR, Furlage RL, Conway A, Wallace PK. Simultaneous measurement of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in blood using multicolor flow cytometry. Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2016; 90(5).
- Cimato TR. Persistent stem cell-driven inflammation in patients with prior MI and stroke.. Eur Heart J. 2016.
- Cimato TR, Palka BA. Effects of statins on TH1 modulating cytokines in human subjects. PeerJ. 2015; 3.
- Suzuki G, Weil BR, Leiker MM, Ribbeck AE, Young RF, Cimato TR, Canty JM. Global intracoronary infusion of allogeneic cardiosphere-derived cells improves ventricular function and stimulates endogenous myocyte regeneration throughout the heart in swine with hibernating myocardium. PLoS One. 2014; 9(11).
- Lang JK, Cimato TR. Cholesterol and hematopoietic stem cells: inflammatory mediators of atherosclerosis. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2014; 3(5).
- Fallavollita JA, Heavey BM, Luisi AJ Jr, Michalek SM, Baldwa S, Mashtare TL, Hutson AD, deKemp RA, Haka MS, Sajjad M, Cimato TR, Curtis AB, Cain ME and Canty JM Jr.. Regional myocardial sympathetic denervation predicts the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in ischemic cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014; 63.
- Bett GC, Kaplan AD, Lis A, Cimato TR, Tzanakakis ES, Zhou Q, Morales MJ, Rasmusson RL. Electronic "expression" of the inward rectifier in cardiocytes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. Heart Rhythm. 2013; 10(12).
- Bett GC, Kaplan AD, Lis A, Cimato TR, Tzanakakis ES, Zhou Q, Morales MJ, Rasmusson RL. Electronic "Expression" of the Inward Rectifier in Cardiocytes Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Heart Rhythm. 2013.
- Pol SU, Lang JK, O‘Bara MA, Cimato TR, McCallion AS, Sim FJ. Sox10-MCS5 enhancer dynamically tracks human oligodendrocyte progenitor fate. Exp Neurol. 2013.
- Wang W, Lang JK, Suzuki G, Canty JM Jr., Cimato TR. Statins Enhance Clonal Growth of Late Outgrowth Endothelial Progenitors and Increase Myocardial Capillary Density. PLOS One. 2011; 6(9).
- Wang W, JK Lang, G Suzuki, JM Canty Jr and T Cimato. Statins enhance clonal growth of late outgrowth endothelial progenitors and increase myocardial capillary density in the chronically ischemic heart. PLoS ONE. 2011; 6(9).
- Suzuki G, Iyer V, Cimato T, Canty JM. Pravastatin improves function in hibernating myocardium by mobilizing CD133+ and cKit+ bone marrow progenitor cells and promoting myocytes to reenter the growth phase of the cardiac cell cycle Circ Res. 2009; 104(2).
- Olive M, Mellad JA, Beltran LE, Ma M, Cimato T, Noguchi AC, San H, Childs R, Kovacic JC, Boehm M, Cimato TR. p21Cip1 modulates arterial wound repair through the stromal cell-derived factor-1/CXCR4 axis in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2008; 118(6).
- Cimato TR, Jessup M. Recipient selection in cardiac transplantation: contraindications and risk factors for mortality. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2002; 21(11).
- Cimato TR, Tang J, Xu Y, Herschman H, Pongor S and Aletta J. NGF-mediated increases in protein methylation occur predominantly at Type I arginine methylation sites and involve protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT 1). Journal of Neuroscience Research. 2002; 67(4).
- Cimato T, Ettinger M, Aletta J. Protein methylation: a signal event in post-translational modification Trends Biochem Sci. 1998; 23(3).
- Cimato TR, Ettinger M, Zhou X and Aletta J. Nerve growth factor specific regulation of protein methylation during neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells. Journal of Cell Biology. 1997; 138(5).
- Bethin KE, Cimato TR, Ettinger MJ. Copper binding to mouse liver S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase and the effects of copper on its levels. J Biol Chem. 1995; 270(35).
Professional Memberships:
- Member, International Society for Stem Cell Research (2006–present)
- Member, Heart Failure Society of America (2006–present)
- Member, American Society of Echocardiography (2006–present)
- Fellow, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (2006–present)
- Fellow, American Heart Association (2002–present)
- Fellow, American College of Cardiology (2002–present)
Presentations:
- "Advanced Heart Failure Management" Gates Vascular Institute Symposium, Kaleida Health (2019)
- "Data Guided Management of Heart Failure" University at Buffalo Primary Care Update Conference, Primary Care (2019)
- "Hematopoietic Progenitors in Cancer and Heart Disease" UB Clinical and Translational Research Colloquium, University at Buffalo, Translational Research (2016)
- "Flow Cytometry Analysis of Hematopoietic Progenitors in Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease" International Society for Advancement of Cytometry, Webinar Series (2016)
- "Hematopoietic Progenitors in Cancer and Heart Disease" Roswell Park Cancer Institute Immunology Research Conference, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Department of Immunology (2016)
- "Prevention of Heart Attack: Overview of the New Cholesterol Guidelines" SUNY at Buffalo-Dept Family Medicine, SUNY at Buffalo Sch of Medicine, Medical Grand Rounds (2013)
- "Diagnosis and Management of Congestive Heart Failure" SUNY at Buffalo-Dept Medicine, SUNY at Buffalo Sch of Medicine, Medical Grand Rounds (2013)
- "Master Cardiac Transcription Factor MESP1 is Highly Expressed in Adult Human CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Its Levels are Modulated by Body Mass Index" American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, American Heart Assocation, ATVB/Stem and Progenitor Cells (2013)
- "The Interaction of Cholesterol and Inflammation with Hematopoietic Stem Cells: A Potential Target For Therapy in Atherosclerosis" SUNY at Buffalo-Dept Medicine, SUNY at Buffalo Sch of Medicine, Research Grand Rounds (2013)
- "Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Increases the Angiogenic Properties of Human Pluirpotent Stem Cell Derived Neuropilin-1+ CD34+ Nascent Endothelial Cells Via a Jak2 Dependent Pathway" American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, American Heart Association, ATVB (2012)
- "Component currents of cardiac myocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells" Biophysical Society, Biophysical Society (2012)
- "Intracoronary infusion of cardiosphere-derived cells (icCDCs) improves cardiac function by stimulating myocyte-proliferation in non-infarcted hibernating myocardium with no effect on normal myocardium" American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, American Heart Association (2011)
- "Simplified Monolayer Differentiation of Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Functional Cardiac Myocytes" Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS) Scientific Sessions 2011, American Heart Association (2011)
- "Transcriptonal Profiling of Pluripotent Stem-Cell Derived Neuropilin-1+ CD34- Vascular Precursors Reveals Significant Overlap with Ventral Mesoderm and Identifies Signaling Pathways in Differentiation to Vascular Cells" Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS) Scientific Sessions 2011, American Heart Association (2011)
- "Genomic analysis of early endothelial differentiation from human stem cells identifies novel growth factor signaling pathways involved in vasculogenesis" Atherosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (2011)
- "Drug therapy for Heart Failure and Heart Failure with Normal LV systolic function" University at Buffalo School of Medicine, Update for Primary Care Providers (2011)
- "Neuropilins in Cardiac and Vascular Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells" Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Cellular and Molecular Biology (2010)
- "Pravastatin Increases Clonogenic Growth of Late Outrowth Endothelial Progenitor Cells (LOEPCs) and Increases Myocardial Capillary Density in Swine with Chronic Coronary Occlusion and Hibernating Myocardium" Northwestern University Cardiovascular Young Investigators Forum (2009)
- "Vascular Precursors from Adult and Embryonic Stem Cells" Upstate New York Cardiovascular Research Symposium, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry (2008)
- "Chronic stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending artery in juvenile rats results in a critical impairment in coronary flow reserve and leads to the development of hibernating myocardium without necrosis" American Heart Association Scientific Sessions (2008)
- "Neuropilin 1 identifies endothelial precursors in murine and human embryonic stem cells prior to CD34 expression." American Heart Association Scientific Sessions (2007)
- "NHLBI Symposium on Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine" NHLBI Symposium on Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Health (2007)
- "Identification of Vascular Precursors from Human Stem Cells" University of Miami School of Medicine, Medicine Grand Rounds (2006)
- "Identification of Vascular Precursors from Human Stem Cells" Cornell University-Weill School of Medicine, Cardiology Grand Rounds (2006)
Service Activities:
- Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Apppointment, Promotions,Tenure & Privileges; Member (2019)
- Faculty Senate; School Representative (2010–2012)
- European Journal of Heart Failure; Peer Reviewer (2016–present)
- European Heart Journal Peer Review; Peer Reviewer (2015–present)
- NIH/NHLBI Cardiovascular SBIR Peer Review; Panel Member (2014–present)
- UB School of Medicine Faculty Council; Alternate Member (2014–present)
- Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee-Buffalo General Medical Center; Panel Member (2014–present)
- Biology of Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation-Peer Reviewer; Peer Reviewer (2014–present)
- Consulting Physician-Cardiology-Roswell Park Cancer Institute; Consultant (2013–present)
- University at Buffalo: Scholarly Exchange Day; Research Facilitator (2013); Panel Member (2012)
- American Heart Association-Innovative Research Grant Study Section Member; Committee Member (2012–present)
- Biosafety Committee-SUNY at Buffalo; Panel Member (2012–present)
- Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics; Peer Reviewer (2012–present)
- Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research; Peer Reviewer (2012–present)
- PLoS One Peer Reviewer; Peer Reviewer (2012–present)
- Stem Cells Translational Medicine-Peer Reviewer; Peer Reviewer (2012–present)
- University at Buffalo Faculty Senate Representative-School of Medicine; Senator (2011–2012)
- Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology-Peer Reviewer; Peer Reviewer (2011–present)
- Cardiovascular Research; Peer Reviewer (2011–present)
- Experimental Biology and Medicine-Peer Reviewer; Peer Reviewer (2011–present)
- Stem Cells-Peer Reviewer; Peer Reviewer (2011–present)
- American Heart Association-Basic Cell Regenerative Cell Biology Study Section; Grant Reviewer (2009–present)
- American Journal of Physiology-Peer Reviewer; Peer Reviewer (2009–present)
- Echocardiography Reading Panel-Buffalo General Medical Center; Panel Member (2009–present)
- Nuclear Cardiology Reading Panel-Buffalo General Medical Center; Clinical Staff (2009–present)
- Nuclear Cardiology Reading Panel-Buffalo General Hospital; Panel Member (2008–present)
- American Journal of Cardiology-Peer Reviewer; Peer Reviewer (2008–present)
- Radiation Safety Officer-UB|MD Cardiology at Dent Tower; Director (2008–present)
- Staff Physician-Buffalo General Medical Center; Clinical Staff (2008–present)
- Director-Nuclear Stress Testing Lab-UB|MD Cardiology; Director (2007–present)
- Staff Physician-WNY VA Medical Center; Clinical Staff (2007–2009)
- Attending Physician-Cardiology Buffalo General Hospital; Clinical Staff (2007–present)
- Circulation Research Peer Reviewer; Reviewer (2007–present)
- NHLBI Symposium on Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine; Advisory Board (2006–2007)