The Center for Cardiovascular Research is a world-class center of excellence at the University of Illinois at Chicago. It brings together more than fifteen laboratories and facilities focused on defining cures for cardiovascular diseases.

The CCVR supports interdisciplinary research in basic, translational and clinical cardiovascular sciences on the Medical Campus at the University of Illinois at Chicago, in the heart of one of the largest metropolitan cities in the United States. This provides an excellent environment for interactive research, better training opportunities for doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, medical students, residents and fellows with the express goal of recruiting and training the talented leaders in cardiovascular science for the future.

THE CCVR AT- A -GLANCE

NETWORKING PLATFORM
The Priority of the CCVR is to provide a campus-wide platform for networking faculty and trainees with common interests in the cardiovascular sciences. Our monthly Colloquium in Cardiovascular Sciences, and yearly Research Day Symposium serve to meet this interdepartmental platform. It is through this network that collaborative efforts have emerged and succeeded at UIC. We offer a vibrant environment important for recruitment and retention of faculty. As a center, we are also uniquely positioned to pursue joint fund raising opportunities among participating clinical and basic science department in conjunction with our UIC development officers.

CORE SERVICES
Models of Heart Disease & Animal Physiology Measures
Through our partnership with the RRC, we are now able to support of our faculty research by providing several core services for monitoring animal physiology. This adds to our growing number of animal models of heart disease now available to both interdepartmental CCVR members and nonmembers. The Center is also a pivotal element in developing and sustaining our mouse phenotyping core. These services and models provide a powerful scientific base in support of our junior faculty capabilities, professional competitiveness, and career advancement.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Important to the mission of our Center is the education of our students. Indeed, no one department has the pool size of students and faculty necessary to support the cardiovascular coursework needed to train our leaders for tomorrow. Currently the CCVR offers four course electives with lectures in heart pathophysiology, clinical studies, muscle contraction, disease treatment strategies, and experimental & clinical methods. Lectures are provided by faculty from the CCVR that include clinicians to enhance interaction with clinical departments. Completion of the coursework, together with laboratory studies focused on the heart, enables students from participating departments to receive their Ph.D. degree conferred with a concentration in Cardiovascular Science.