Research

Our Basic Science and Translational Research Strengths

• Arrhythmia
• Cardiac Myocyte Biology
• Cardiovascular Genetics
• Tissue and Cell Regeneration
• Vascular and Thrombosis Biology

Our Clinical Research Strengths

• Acute and Chronic Cardiovascular Diseases
• Aging and the Cardiovascular System
• Aortic Disease
• Arrhythmia
• Cardiac Imaging
• Health Services and Clinical Effectiveness
• Heart Failure and LVAD
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Stroke
• Structural Heart Disease
• Thrombosis and DVT

Clinical Trials

Take Part in a Clinical Study

Our research studies require all types of volunteers, including:

• Patients with a specific heart diseases or conditions. Patients may either be inpatient at the hospital, receiving a procedure, or at a follow up appointment with their cardiologist. Volunteers are needed at all points during the course of care.
• Families of patients with a specific heart diseases or conditions may be asked to volunteer if the condition is genetic.
• Healthy volunteers play a key role in research studies. Healthy volunteers provide crucial health information that can be used as a comparison with individuals who have a specific disease or condition. Healthy volunteers often serve as the control group when researchers are developing a new technique such as a blood test or imaging device because healthy volunteers help define the limits of "normal."

To learn more about all of our clinical studies, visit Volunteer for Cardiovascular Research. Or you can contact us at 1-888-286-4420 or [email protected].

Clinical Trials Support Unit

The Heart Vessel Blood Clinical Trials Support Unit (HVB-CTSU) enhances performance of cardiovascular, coagulation and nonmalignant hematologic clinical trials across the lifespan, including industry-sponsored, federally-sponsored and investigator-initiated clinical trials of acute or chronic disease. Drawing from the successful clinical trials programs, which have driven both clinical business and research, meaningful synergies within the HVB-CTSU foster a culture of collaboration.

Cardiovascular Health Improvement Project (CHIP)
The Cardiovascular Health Improvement Project is a biorepository of DNA, plasma, serum, and aortic tissue samples as well as an extensive clinical database of medical and family history information. Learn more.

Cardiovascular Regeneration Core Lab
The Cardiovascular Regeneration Core Laboratory generates patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) for basic science research purposes. Learn more.

Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics (CAMTraST)
The Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics strives to accelerate the “bench to bedside” process in biomedical research and drug development with the mission of developing advanced models for translational sciences and therapeutics as part of the University of Michigan Medical School. Learn more.

Center for Arrhythmia Research (CAR)
At the Center for Arrhythmia Research, scientists and physicians from a variety of disciplines work together to develop new methods of diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases, with the primary goal of preventing premature cardiac death. Our scientists have made major advances in understanding the molecular and cellular basis for and the fundamental mechanisms of complex, life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Learn more. 

Michigan Biological Research Initiative on Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease (M-BRISC)
The Michigan Biological Research Initiative on Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease (M-BRISC) aims to increase investigation designed to understand the mechanisms of cardiovascular disease that differentially affect women and factors underlying the health of women. Learn more.

Michigan Biology of Cardiovascular Aging (MBoCA)
Michigan Biology of Cardiovascular Aging is a multidisciplinary science program focused on aging and cardiovascular disease that enhances collaborative research knowledge between established investigators, team members, and others whose work and interests closely relate. Learn more.

Multidisciplinary Aortic Program (MAP)
MAP is an interdisciplinary program with over 20 faculty representatives from cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, interventional radiology, cardiac imaging, medical genetics, and cardiovascular medicine. MAP faculty are conducting innovative research across a wide spectrum, including FDA-regulated trials, NIH-funded trials, Department of Defense contracts, and investigator-initiated projects, all specific to aortic disease. 

• Matthew Brody, PhD
  The Brody lab is broadly focused on the molecular signals that underlie cardiac disease onset and progression.
• J. Brian Byrd, MD, MS
  Research in the Byrd lab focuses on improving the diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure through the identification of novel biomarkers of mineralocorticoid receptor activation.
• L. Michel Espinoza-Fonseca, PhD
  The goal of the Espinoza-Fonseca group is to understand the fundamental molecular motions and interactions that are responsible for regulating calcium transport in muscle cells.
• Santhi Ganesh, MD
  The Ganesh lab studies the genetics of vascular diseases leading to phenotypes such as fibromuscular dysplasia, spontaneous coronary artery dissection, visceral artery aneurysms, and other typically non-aortic arterial aneurysms and dissections.
• Daniel Goldstein, MBBS
  The Goldstein lab is interested in how aging impacts innate immunity, focusing on aging and respiratory viral infections and aging and vascular diseases.
• Salim Hayek, MD
  Research in the Hayek lab centers on the novel use of biomarkers for predictive and prevention-based diagnoses and disease treatment.
• Yogen Kanthi, MD
  The Kanthi lab investigates the mechanisms of dysregulated vascular and innate immune signals in thrombosis and inflammation.
• Daniel A. Lawrence, PhD
  The Lawrence lab studies the role of proteases and their inhibitors in health and disease, primarily focusing on the vascular biology of the CNS and disorders such as stroke; and on the development of peripheral vascular disease.
• James H. Morrissey, PhD
  The research conducted in the Morrissey lab focuses on understanding how cells regulate blood clotting in health and disease.
• Nadia R. Sutton, MD
  The Sutton lab is focused on the interplay of hemodynamics and the biology of vascular aging.
• Cristen Willer, PhD
  The Willer lab focuses on the analysis of high-throughput genetic data to understand the biological basis of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.