Angiogenesis is a key process involved in the progression of many pathological diseases, such as cancer and vascular disease. There is increasing interest in this field of research as understanding the role of angiogenesis in disease may lead to new treatments.

A recent article series titled ‘Angiogenesis and nonmedical interventions’, published in Journal of Angiogenesis Research, discusses the latest developments in nanomedical drug-delivery platforms that have the potential to drastically improve drug delivery. Since it can be difficult to treat diseases using anti-angiogenic agents in cases where the site of drug-delivery is hard to access (such as brain tumors where the brain is protected by the blood-brain barrier, or when treating neovascular disease in the retina), nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems could be used to help transport the appropriate drug directly to the required site, thus improving the treatment. Two further review articles will be published as part of this series; you can sign up to receive article alerts when these are published.

Coinciding with this article series, a new book published by Springer, ‘Therapeutic Angiogenesis for Vascular Diseases: Molecular Mechanisms and Targeted Clinical Approaches for the Treatment of Angiogenic Disease’, focuses on therapeutic angiogenesis and its potential applications in human pathology. The book, edited by Mark Slevin, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Angiogenesis Research, also includes contributions from co-Editors-in-Chief Jan Kitajewski and Yihai Cao, and several of the journal’s Editorial Board members.

One of these Editorial Board members, Dr Guilio Alessandri, states in the book’s foreward: “Scientists are investigating the role of angiogenesis in a broad spectrum of human diseases…[that] can not be treated with conventional therapy.” He adds, “…[This book] offers new insight into the role of angiogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases, and, in particular, a section on Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration associated with dementia.”

Further research in this field will have a significant impact on the treatment of diseases affected by excessive or reduced angiogenesis.