March 04, 2009
Building on a legacy of groundbreaking discoveries
at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) exploring the mechanisms and treatment of
cardiovascular disease, the Gerald
McGinnis Cardiovascular Institute’s new Center for Research and Innovation officially
opened on March 5, 2009 to support its growing research programs. Funding for the new Center was made possible
through grants from external funding sources.
The Center’s genomics and gene therapy
research branch encompass the east wing of the eighth floor of AGH’s South
Tower, linking research in genomic analysis of DNA samples from cardiovascular
patients with emerging gene therapy technologies to enable the use of DNA
itself as medicine for cardiovascular diseases.
“The integration of genomics and gene therapy
within a single facility offers CVI scientists the opportunity to not only
explore the genetic basis of cardiovascular diseases, but to also have
available the gene delivery technologies needed to envision gene therapies for
these diseases,” said Raymond
Benza, MD, Director of the new Center and medical
director of AGH’s Heart Failure, Transplantation and
Mechanical Assist Devices program.
The Center includes a dedicated viral vector production
facility where CVI scientists can construct gene therapy vectors starting with
the desired DNA payload and proceeding to final purification and testing. The
Center also houses the world’s largest collection of genomic DNA samples from
patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension — the product of an international
effort led by Dr. Benza to understand the genomic
basis of this deadly disease.
Shared resources include a dedicated cell
culture facility; a fully equipped surgical operating room; cardiac
catheterization, imaging and electrophysiological laboratories; and a
microscopy facility. The imaging suite is equipped with a state-of-the-art
ultrasound imaging platform and a micro CT device capable of imaging microvascular tissue networks in the micron range.
In addition to accommodating the laboratories,
the Center has offices for a team of clinical research nurses conducting more
than 70 active clinical trials in cardiovascular disease at AGH. Documentation
for clinical trials will be stored in a records room, and a conference room is
available for meetings and seminars for educational purposes.
According to Dr. Benza,
the Center for Research and Innovation will encompass five areas of
cardiovascular research: basic, clinical, cardiac imaging, surgical and
translational studies.
“Together, our team of investigators will be
developing a broad-based research environment that will focus on a new
generation of diagnostic and treatment methodologies,” said Dr. Benza. “Through these efforts, our Center will expand
patients’ opportunities for improved cardiac health and a better quality of
life.”
Added Srinivas Murali, MD, Medical Director
of the Gerald McGinnis Cardiovascular Institute: “The opening of the Center
for Research and Innovation is yet another milestone for the Gerald McGinnis
Cardiovascular Institute and I am very proud of this achievement. The
infrastructure in this Center is tailor made for innovative and collaborative
projects since it will facilitate communication between scientists and their
clinical partners.”
Media Contact
Name:
Dan Laurent
Phone:
412-359-8602
Contact
Dan Laurent