Virginia Commonwealth University
Loren K. Liebrecht, MD, MS is a Research Scientist in the Department of Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine in Richmond, VA, USA. Loren graduated VCU SOM in 2015 with an interest in surgery, critical care medicine, and translational research. Here, she completed her Intern year of Internal Medicine Residency (VCUHS), as well as two Post-Doctoral Fellowships (2015-2017, 2020-2024) with mentor Dr. Martin J. Mangino, PhD.
Over the past decade, Dr. Liebrecht has studied ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) as it relates to critical illness, resuscitation practices, and microcirculatory perfusion, including: hemorrhagic shock, septic shock, splanchnic shock, coagulopathy of trauma, and organ transplantation. By conducting pre-clinical and translational models of shock, Dr. Liebrecht has helped Dr. Mangino develop and patent a novel resuscitation solution using PEG-20k polymer in balanced crystalloid. The IV fluid has partial colloidal properties allowing water to move from edematous tissue and ischemic cells back into the capillary space through a unique double gradient. When given early in shock, and only once at low volume (6.8 ml/kg), results are superior to LR and whole blood controls, including survival, oxygen debt repayment (via lactate), and microcirculatory perfusion, despite subjects being bled 50% of total blood volume. The solution is safe and swine survive to 14 days (study end) without further blood, IV fluid, or critical lab abnormalities. The biotechnology company Perfusion Medical, Inc. founded by Dr. Mangino in 2020 is currently on track to submit to FDA its Investigational New Drug (IND) application to start Phase I and II clinical trials for hemorrhagic shock in 2025-2026.
Dr. Liebrecht hopes to transition to Assistant Faculty in the VCU Department of Surgery in 2025 while continuing to research ischemia reperfusion injury mechanisms and treatments in splanchnic shock, septic shock, AKI, myocardial infarction, cardiopulmonary bypass, and cardiac arrest.
Disclosure information not submitted.
Patient- and Family-Centered Care or Resort Management: Is the Customer Always Right?
Monday, February 24, 2025
3:15pm – 4:15pm Eastern Time