Research Centers and Cores
Atrial Fibrillation Precision Medicine Research Program: Working to develop personalized care for patients with atrial fibrillation, based on their individual clinical and genetic risk factors
- Vanderbilt Center for Population Science and Randomized Clinical Trials (V-POLARIS): The V-POLARIS mission is to leverage large population cohorts involving millions of participants with granular mechanistic studies to design and conduct clinical trials to improve human health locally and globally and to train the next generation of population scientists/clinical trialists.
- Vanderbilt Translational and Clinical Cardiovascular Research Center (VTRACC): A multidisciplinary team whose purpose is to accelerate high-quality innovative research. Under the direction of Deepak Gupta, MD, VTRACC leverages central resources and content expertise across the spectrum of cardiovascular disease to augment each investigator’s independent research program and foster collaboration among investigators.
- High-throughput Biomarker Core: The purpose of the HTBC is to study proteins and gene expression from large numbers of samples. The core has established protocols and quality control required for sample shipment, coding, storing, processing, reproducibility, and is working with a large number of protein and RNA samples in an efficient, reproducible, and high throughput manner. In addition, utilizing the Biomark (Fluidigm) system, the core is performing proteomic studies using the highly reproducible Olink proteomic panels. The lab is an official Olink certified center.
- Cardiology Core Laboratory for Translational and Clinical Research (CLTCR): The main purpose is to facilitate investigations and provide resource support in the translational and clinical outcome research on cardiovascular diseases. Directed by Yan Ru Su, PhD, the CLTCR has become a fundamental resource for establishing and maintaining a variety of cardiovascular biorepositories. It has also been the key laboratory for blood and DNA sample processing for cardiovascular clinical trials conducted at the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute, and has been the central biorepository for several large multi-center clinical trials. The CLTCR offers experimental services oriented towards the development of new biomarkers and detection/identification of genetic mutations/variations for a diagnostic test or drug response.
- Lipid Measurement Core: Founded in 1993, the Vanderbilt Lipid Laboratory has a long history of providing lipid and lipoprotein testing for both clinical and research purposes. Under the direction of MacRae Linton, MD, the Vanderbilt Lipid Laboratory follows the rigorous Laboratory Quality Assurance and Standardization Program of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which permits accurate and reproducible analyses that are suitable for epidemiological studies and clinical trials. Serum lipoprotein profiles are measured by the Vanderbilt Lipid Laboratory, and assays include Lp(a), and direct LDL cholesterol, and hsCRP, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL-C.