Cardiovascular Research Laboratory

Facilities

The Cardiovascular Research Laboratory is equipped with state of the art research equipment necessary for standard biochemical and molecular biology assays. Equipment in our lab includes standard light and dissecting microscopes with digital cameras, a cryostat, thermocyclers, RT-PCR equipment for measuring gene expression, a UV/Vis and fluorescent microplate reader, and other standard laboratory equipment necessary for biochemical assays. We also have access to endurance exercise training equipment such as treadmills, bikes, and elliptical machines that can be used for clinical trials, and an animal treadmill that is used primarily for exercise training studies in mice. In addition, we have developed a close collaboration with the Christie Clinic in Champaign to utilize their 64-slice CT scanner as a noninvasive tool for measuring the development and progression of atherosclerosis in humans.