Cardiologist

Board certification
Cardiovascular disease, internal medicine and interventional cardiology

Education
Cardiologist Gregory Helmer, MD, earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Mich. He completed a cardiology fellowship at the University of California, San Diego, Calif., and an interventional cardiology fellowship at University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.  He currently serves as the Business Development and Site Director for Outreach.

Special medical interests
Cardiovascular CT, MRI, interventional cardiology and angiogenesis for collateral vessel development.

Awards and honors
Named Top Doc in cardiology by Mpls/St Paul magazine, 2006.

For appointments
952-924-9005

Clinic location
Minnesota Heart Clinic
305 East Nicollet Blvd.
Ridgeview Office Bldg.
Suite 372
Burnsville, MN 55337


Publications
Helmer, G.A., McKirnan, D., Shabetai, R., Boss, G.R., Ross, J.R., Hammond, H.K.  “Regional Deficits of Myocardial Blood Flow and Function in Ventricular Pacing-induced Heart Failure.”  Circulation, Volume 94, No 9, November 1, 1996.

Roth, D.A., Urasawa, K., Helmer, G.A., Hammond, H.D.  “Down-regulation of Cardiac GTP-binding Proteins In Right Atrium and Left Ventricle in Pacing-induced Congestive Heart Failure.”  J.Clin Invest, 91:939-949, 1993.

Toosmasian, J.M., Helmer, G.A., Zeme, M.I., Oltean, J.N., Oran, A.D., Bartlett, R.H.  “Control of Thrombosis in Extracorporeal Circulation:  Variations of Anticoagulation.”  Am Soc ArifIntern Organs, 29: 206-209, 1983.

Boyce, K., Henjum, S.C., Helmer, G.A., Chen, P.S.  “Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of the Accessory Pathway in the Permanent Form of Junctional Reciprocating Tachycardia.”  NA.

Grines, C.L., Watkins, M.W., Helmer, G.A., Penny, W. Brinker, Marmur, J., West, A., Rade, J., Marrott, P. Hammond, H.K., Engler, R.L. “Angiogenic Gene

Therapy (AGENT) Trial in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris.”  Circulation. March 19, 2002; 105:1291 – 1297.

Rude, D.J., Koralesky, A., Helmer, G.A., Henry, T.  “Successful Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome.”  Submitted American Heart Journal August 2003.


Research experience
Principal Investigator of the following clinical trials:

AGENT Trial:  “Phase 1/Phase 2 Study of the Effects of Ascending Doses of    Adenovirus Mediated Human FGF-4 Gene Transfer in Patients with Stable Exertional Angina.” 1998- 2006.

Evaluate the Effects of Ad5FGF-4 on Myocardial Perfusion Defect Size and Safety in Patients with Stable Angina.” 2000 – 2006.

AGENT III TRIAL:  “A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Ad5FGF-4 in Patients with Stable Angina.”  2001 – ongoing


Assistant or Sub-Investigator of the following clinical trials/ projects:

One year of research at UCSD-VA as Associate Investigator with Dr. Kirk Hammond assessment of G-proteins in heart failure and initiation gene transfer for collateral vessel development. 

Helmer, G.A., Hammond, K., “Chronic Ischemic and Myocardial Signal Transduction.”  Veteran’s Administration AI- Grant

SYMPHONY Trial:   “A Phase III, Multicenter, International, Randomized, Double-blind, Aspirin-controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Sibrafiban (R048-3657), an Oral Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Antagonist, a Therapy for the Prevention of Secondary Vascular Events in Patients after an Acute Coronary Syndrome.”  (1997 - 1999).

InTIME II Trial:  “Double-blind, Randomized, Multicenter Trial of Single-Bolus Lanoteplase Versus Accelerated Alteplase for the Treatment of Subjects with Acute Myocardial Infarction.”  (1997- 1999).

ALIVE Trial:  “A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Design Study to Determine the Effect of 75 or 100 mg of Orally Administered Azimilide Dihydrochloride versus Placebo on Survival in Recent Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients at Risk of Sudden Death.”  (1998-2001)

“The 2nd SYMPHONY Trial:  “A Phase III, multicenter, international, randomized, double-blind, aspirin-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two regimens with Xubix™ (sibrafiban; Ro 48-3657), an oral platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist, as therapy for the long term prevention of secondary vascular events in patients after an Acute Coronary Syndrome.” (1998-2000).

AMISTAD II trial:  “A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, Multicenter Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Adenosine (Pallacorr, Adenosine Injection) as an Adjunct to Reperfusion Therapy (Thrombolysis or Mechanical Reperfusion) in The Treatment of Acute Anterolateral Myocardial Infarction.” (1999 – 2001).

APEX-AMI Study - A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-group, Placebo-Controlled Study of Pexelizumab in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (2004-2006).

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