Division of Cardiovascular Medicine

Research Centers and Labs

Research Centers and Cores

  • Vanderbilt Translational and Clinical Cardiovascular Research Center (VTRACC): Established in 2013, VTRACC is a multidisciplinary team of cardiologists, endocrinologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, internists, radiologists, biostatisticians, research analysts and coordinators, and administrative staff whose purpose is to accelerate high-quality innovative research. Under the direction of Deepak Gupta, MD, the center’s core philosophy is that together we can achieve more, faster, and with greater impact, through collaborative sharing of ideas and resources. 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 VUMC High-throughput Biomarker Core is to study proteins and gene expression from large numbers of samples. Directed by Dr. Kahraman Tanriverdi and Co-directors Drs. Jane Freedman and Ravi Shah, the lab has already examined over 50,000 individuals from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), Framingham Heart Study (FHS), and other cohorts, clinical and smaller biomarker studies. 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. Services include miRNA and Gene Expression Profiling and High-Throughput Proteomics. 
  • Cardiology Core Laboratory for Translational and Clinical Research (CLTCR): Established in 2009, the main function of the Cardiology Core Laboratory for Translational and Clinical Research is to facilitate investigations and to provide resource support in the translational and clinical outcome research on cardiovascular diseases. The CLTCR, directed by Yan Ru Su, PhD, has become a fundamental resource for establishing and maintaining a variety of cardiovascular biorepositories. These include serum, plasma, DNA, RNA, human heart tissue samples. 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. These include, but are not limited to, DNA and RNA extractions, assessment and validation of biomarkers using different platforms, such as ELISA, Luminex technology, and Roche Cobas e411.  It was accredited by  The College of American Pathologists (CAP)’s Biorepository Accreditation Program in 2021. 
  • 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. 

Research Labs