The Importance of Angiogenesis

October 2, 2006 -- Angiogenesis or blood vessel growth has a long history. It was first described in 1787 by British surgeon Dr. John Hunter, who observed it in the antlers of reindeer. But it wasn't until nearly 200 years later, in 1971, that Dr. Judah Folkman hypothesized angiogenesis played a crucial role in disease processes. We look at how understanding this process has helped drug makers discover new compounds to treat previously intractable diseases...