Van Kampen family: Cardiothoracic research

The Van Kampen family's first experience with Loyola University Health System (Loyola) began in 1999, when family patriarch, the late Robert Van Kampen, founder of Van Kampen Investments, came to Loyola seeking treatment.

Mr. Van Kampen was in dire need of a heart transplant. Cardiovascular specialists evaluated him and put him on the transplant list, but his condition quickly deteriorated. He underwent successful emergency surgery to implant an artificial heart, but contracted a blood disease a couple of weeks later and died.

In the short time Mr. Van Kampen received treatment at Loyola, the high caliber of compassionate care Loyola specialists give to their patients strongly impressed his family. In appreciation, the family made a $2 million pledge to the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (Stritch).

"My mother-in-law, Judith Van Kampen, really felt a sense of gratitude for the willingness of the entire Cardiology Department to take Bob in and give him hope," recalled Scott Pierre, Mr. Van Kampen's son-in-law. "We were at a dark point when Bob arrived at Loyola, but the doctors and other health specialists we met at Loyola ignited our hope for life."

The family made their donation in several increments, with the most recent gift of $958,000 given to support cardiothoracic research, including investigation by cardiothoracic surgeon Robert Love, MD, to reduce the rate of human heart and lung transplant rejection. In honor of the family's overall philanthropic support, and specific research support, the laboratory where Dr. Love and his fellow investigators conduct their work will be named The Van Kampen Cardiothoracic Research Laboratory at Loyola University Medical Center.

"Mr. Van Kampen and his family went through a long ordeal with heart disease and came up against the limitations of our ability to overcome his highly sensitized immune response while he was awaiting transplantation," said Dr. Love. "As difficult as that has been for the Van Kampens to bear, the family's generosity in supporting our research will allow us to develop more tools with which to treat future patients in similar difficult situations."

Dr. Love is investigating methods to desensitize the immune response to Collagen V, which triggers an autoimmune response problematic for organ transplant patients. He explained that in both heart and lung disease, the injury process causes certain proteins involved in collagen structure, (normally hidden inside the architecture of collagen fibers) to become exposed to the immune system. These proteins, or Type V Collagen fibers, cause the body to mount an immune response designed to eliminate foreign tissue. Chronic, ongoing tissue rejection is the chief obstacle to long-term survival for patients who have undergone heart and lung transplants.

The Van Kampen's latest gift will cover the cost of research equipment and tools, as well as support for existing faculty members and a new research technician. It also will finance ongoing research in cardiopulmonary failure.

In addition, the gift will fund surgical tools and educational activities, specifically the establishment of a research forum in the Van Kampen Conference Facility to promote ongoing research cooperation in investigating heart and lung failure.