CVI Core Labs
The Penn CVI has established basic, translational and clinical research
core laboratories with specialized expertise available to all of its faculty members.
Biostatistics and Biomedical Informatics Core
Core Website »
Getting Started / New Project Proposals »
The core is co-directed by Mary Putt, ScD (Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology)
and Thomas Cappola, MD, ScM (Division of Cardiovascular Medicine).
The core is part of the Penn Biomedical Informatics Consortium, a partnership between:
Penn Cardiovascular Institute (CVI),
Leonard Davis Institute (LDI), Pathology, and the
Abramson Cancer Center (ACC).
Core Objectives:
1) Help CVI investigators identify an appropriate informatics group
For collection and management of data, School of Medicine investigators may choose between:
Clinical Research Computing Unit » Biomedical Informatics Facility »
2) Connect CVI investigators with biostatisticians who can analyze their data
Core statisticians have a broad range of expertise in the development and application of innovative study designs and data analysis,
including statistical genetics, clinical trials, observational studies, and translational research.
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Cardiac Myocyte Core
Information – Dr. Ken Margulies »
Core Website »
The Cardiac Myocyte Core is a component of the Myocyte Biology and Heart Failure program unit of the Penn CVI.
This core is designed as a central resource for assisting CVI investigators with experiments requiring isolated cardiac myocytes.
Services offered include provision of neonatal rodent myocytes for cell culture experiments,
isolation of adult myocytes from a variety of mammalian species, isolated myocyte morphometric analyses and
in vitro physiological studies examining cell shortening and responses to agonists.
Upon request, interested investigators can receive training that will allow them to perform cell isolations or analyses independently.
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Genotyping Core
Information – Dr. Daniel L. Dries, (215) 573-2781
The Cardiovascular Genotyping Core Laboratory within the Cardiovascular Institute is directed by Dr. Daniel L. Dries, MD, MPH, and provides services to members of the Cardiovascular Institute.
We offer medium-throughput genotyping services utilizing the Sequenom Mass Array Compact System and iPLEX technology.
This platform allows multiplex genotyping at the 24-plex level and is ideally suited for candidate gene association studies and fine mapping.
We assist researchers in the in the design of multiplex assays from a set of candidate SNPs.
In general, high-plexed assays can be designed for > 95% of all confirmed SNPs.
The core does not provide genomic DNA preparation services, but rather works with genomic DNA samples provided by the researchers in 96-well plates.
The core lab is equipped with several multi-channel liquid handlers to facilitate sample preparation and genotyping throughput.
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Histology and Gene Expression Core
Information – Dr. Min Min Lu
Core Website »
The Histology and Gene Expression Core Facility within the
Cardiovascular Institute is directed by Dr. Min Min Lu and provides core
services for selected members as determined by the oversight committee. The
core is partially funded by a program project grant from the National Institutes
of Health and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute entitled "Molecular
mechanisms of vascular heterogeneity and function." Core services include routine fixation of pathological specimens for frozen sections
or paraffin embedded sections, sectioning and routine staining of tissue
blocks with specialty stains developed and performed as necessary. The
core performs extensive in situ hybridization studies using both
radioactive and non radioactive techniques on whole mount specimens and
on tissue sections. In addition, immunohistochemistry using fluorescent
and enzymatic substrate detection methods are routinely performed. The
core has extensive experience in optimization of antigen unmasking and
immunohistochemistry detection. Polyclonal antibodies are purified
and characterized within the core. The core is staffed with three or four full time histologists and major equipment includes a cryostat, four microtomes, paraffin embedding station, vibratome and related equipment.
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Microscopy Core
Information – Dr. Andrea Stout, (215) 573-3942
Core Website »
The Microscopy Core Facility within the Cardiovascular Institute, directed
by Dr. Andrea Stout, is equipped with a variety of light microscopes that
meet the diverse needs of CVI researchers. Instruments include a Leica
stereomicroscope for sample inspection as well as several upright microscopes
with standard three-color filter cubes and cameras for routine wide field
epifluorescence imaging of fluorescently-stained samples. A Leica
TCS SP2 confocal microscope equipped with three visible-light lasers is
available to those who need the resolving power of a confocal and versatility
of spectral detection. The core also provides assistance in image
processing and analysis.
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Mouse CV Physiology and Microsurgery Core
Information – Dr. Tao Wang, (215) 898-2656, Room 982 BRB II/III
Core Website »
The core, directed by Dr. Tao Wang,
is dedicated to the phenotypic assessment of cardiovascular function
in genetically altered mice, since the availability of well-defined genetic
strains and the ability to create transgenic and knockout mice makes mouse
models extremely valuable biomedical tools. The core is designed to provide many types of service to Molecular Cardiology Research Center (MCRC). We obtain in vivo phenotypic data from transgenic and knockout mice using following microsurgical models and state-of-the-art physiologic analysis. We also offer microsurgery trainings and technique assistance for faculty, staff, fellows and students whose work requires microsurgical manipulations.
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Physiology Core
Information – Dr. Vic Patel, (215) 898-5475
The Physiology Core within the Cardiovascular Institute allows appropriate Cardiovascular Institute
investigators to perform in vivo physiologic cardiovascular analysis of small animal models including rats and mice.
Equipment and protocols developed within the core allow investigators to measure real time heart rate and rhythm using implantable
telemetry devices. Surface electrocardiograms and invasive electrophysiological
testing is performed under the direction of Dr. Vic Patel. Invasive
hemodynamic monitoring of both left and right heart allows for direct measurements
of cardiovascular pressures and function. Ischemia reperfusion models
have been developed and validated using coronary ligation and fluorescent
microsphere techniques to assess "myocardium at risk." In combination
with the Histology and Gene Expression Core Facility histologic analysis
of infracted myocardium is performed. Carotid injury models to examine
vascular restenosis have also been developed. Micro pump implantation
to deliver constant infusion of substances including isoproteranol and
angiotension II are also performed. Equipment within the core includes intubation and anesthesia apparati, telemetry
recording instruments, electrophysiology recording devices and appropriate
electrical and pressure recording catheters.
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Transgenic and Knockout Core
Information – Ms. Diane Zhou
Core Website »
The Transgenic and Knockout Core Facility within the Cardiovascular
Institute is a fully functional transgenic facility directed by
Ms. Diane Zhou. The core facility performs transgenic and knockout experiments
in collaboration with Cardiovascular Institute investigators as directed
by the oversight committee. The core is partially funded by a program
project grant entitled "Molecular mechanisms of vascular heterogeneity
and function" from the National Institutes of Health and the National Heart,
Lung and Blood Institute. The core is designed to generate transgenic
mice from appropriate recombinant DNA constructs by injection of fertilized
eggs and reimplantation into pseudo-pregnant female mice. In addition,
the core has significant experience and success in the generation of knockout
mice by injection of appropriately targeted embryonic stem cells into blastocysts
followed by reimplantation. The core is also proficient with cryopreservation
of mouse embryos for long term storage, cryopreservation of sperm and rederivation
of mouse lines.
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