Myocardial infarction of the heart

Toren Finkel, MD, PhD, Chief

The Cardiovascular Branch is involved in ongoing clinical and laboratory studies whose aim is to develop new understanding and treatments for cardiovascular disease.

The Branch consists of four separate sections including a number of tenured, tenure-track and clinical staff investigators. These sections are Clinical Cardiology (Dr. Richard Cannon, Head), Molecular Biology (Dr. Toren Finkel, Head), Vascular Biology (Dr. Elizabeth Nabel, Head) and Experimental Atherosclerosis (Dr. Howard Kruth, Head). Within each of these sections a number of basic mechanistic studies and/or translational or clinical protocols are currently underway.  The clinical focus includes the use of stem cells in cardiovascular diseases, novel approaches to treat patients with intractable coronary ischemia, application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology for patients with peripheral vascular disease and new therapeutic approaches for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. On the basic research side, efforts are underway to better understand cell cycle regulation of vascular smooth muscle cells, the role of reactive oxygen species in signal transduction pathways, cholesterol transport in macrophages and large scale genomic applications in cardiovascular disease.

The Branch also provides state of the art diagnostic technologies and expertise, including stress testing (EKG, echo, radionuclide ventriculography), 2-D and 3-D echocardiography, nuclear imaging (left ventricular function studies, myocardial perfusion, myocardial metabolism), electrophysiology testing, pacemaker management, and cardiac catheterization.

Individuals interested in other employment opportunities within the Branch should contact the appropriate investigator.