CCVR-RRC Physiology Core

The CCVR Physiology core facility is a pay-for-service entity that provides advanced surgical and functional assessment services to create and evaluate rodent models of cardiovascular disease. The CCVR Physiology core is administered by the University’s Research Resources Center (RRC) and is located within its Biological Resources Laboratory. Please visit our RRC website to find out more about our services, the state-of-the-art equipment we utilize, our fee structures and user policies. To initiate a core-assisted service, please fill out and return a request for services form.

NOTE: All work conducted within the CCVR Physiology core facility, whether core-assisted or unassisted, is contingent upon prior approval of the PI’s Animal Use Protocol by the University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Please download a brochure of our services here (PDF)

Surgical Services

• Myocardial infarction (MI) and reperfusion
• Trans Aortic Constriction (TAC) Pressure overload model
• Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) Ischemic stroke model
• Bariatric surgery in mice
• Mouse lung angiography/vascular casting
• Isolated perfused mouse lung model to measure permeability
• Pulmonary vascular permeability assay using evans blue dye labeled albumin in mice
• Cecal ligation puncture model of sepsis
• Customer-based animal surgical procedures

Functional Assessment Services

• High-frequency, high-resolution echocardiography using Vevov 2100
• in vivo hemodynamics using Millar systems
• IVIS bioluminescence imaging system
• CODA blood pressure monitoring system
• ECG recordings
• Stiffness measurement for Carotid artery, Aortic arch, abdominal arteries using VEVO2100
• Microbubble contrast enhanced ultrasound
• Rodent blood gas analysis

Training Services

• Rodent echocardiography imaging and echo image analysis
• IVIS
• Hypoxia and hyperoxia chamber calibration
• Different animal models we have established in our Core

Other Services

• Rodent models of pulmonary hypertension (HPH, MCT, SuHx)
• Bone marrow transplant
• Rodent primary cell isolation (mouse PASMC, PAEC and lung fibroblasts)
• Assist with generation of cell-type specific and conditional knockout mouse breeding and genotyping

Contact Information

Jiwang Chen, PhD, email: chenjw@uic.edu
Director, Cardiovascular Research Core, Research Resources Center
Research Associate Professor in Medicine
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy
Department of Medicine
University of Illinois at Chicago
COMRB 3128 (MC 719)
909 South Wolcott Avenue
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: 312-355-2918 (Office) Fax: 312-996-7193

Maricela Castellon, MS, email: mcaste4@uic.edu
Assistant Director, Cardiovascular Research Core, Research Resources Center
Phone: 312-996-7878