Our Mission
The mission of the Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center is to support interdisciplinary research in basic, translational and clinical cardiovascular sciences, including cardiovascular development, function, pathophysiology, pharmacology, genetics, genomics, and proteomics, and to apply this knowledge to better understand the causes of cardiovascular diseases and to pioneer development of new innovative therapies and approaches to prevent or treat them.
Goals and Objectives
- To support basic, translational, and clinical research that can be translated into therapies and improve patient care
- To provide resources that enhance research in cardiovascular related diseases
- To disseminate knowledge by lectures, seminars and other educational opportunities
- To support training of pre- and postgraduate students, residents and fellows in the cardiovascular sciences and cardiovascular medicine
- To help integrate cardiovascular research across labs, departments, and schools at UVA as well as with outside institutions including facilitating collaborative studies
- To assist CVRC investigators in developing a plan for translating research findings into products or procedures that benefit patients including providing advice on protecting intellectual property, establishing biotech startup companies, and licensing technology to companies
Antonio Abbate, MD, Identifies Treatment for POTS
Resident member Antonio Abbate, MD, Ruth C. Heede Professor of Cardiology, recently published a paper detailing a treatment for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Dr. Abbate & coworkers found that controlling the patient’s heart rate with an already-approved medication improved … Read More
CVRC Trainees Excel at 2025 AHA BCVS
CVRC trainees represented the Center well at this year’s American Heart Association Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (AHA BCVS) Scientific Sessions. The conference, held July 23-26 in Baltimore, MD, is the AHA’s flagship conference for fundamental research. Among the attendees from UVA, … Read More
CVRC Trainees Travel Abroad to Collect a Giraffe Heart
In certain kinds of heart failure, trouble begins when the heart fails to relax completely. Staying partially clenched reduces the amount of blood the heart can move, leading to high pressures in the heart chamber, exhaustion, and fluid retention. Most … Read More
Clint Miller, PhD, Featured in Research in Motion
CVRC Member Clint Miller, PhD, was featured in this week’s Research in Motion video. Watch below:
Swapnil Sonkusare, PhD, Named Pinn Scholar
CVRC Resident Member and Professor of Molecular Physiology & Biological Physics Swapnil Sonkusare, PhD, was named a 2025 Pinn Scholar. The award recognizes three faculty each year for their scientific expertise, mentoring, and service. “I’m excited to join the list … Read More
CVTG RIP – Hot Seats
All Trainees These sessions are initiated by having Dr. Isakson randomly selecting a trainee (by pulling a name from a jar) to give a 5-6 minute summary of their research project without slides indicating why their project is important, what … Read More
Mark Kahn, M.D.
TBD Edward S. Cooper, M.D./Norman Roosevelt and Elizabeth Meriwether McLure Professor of Medicine; Director of Molecular Cardiology; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Angelo Nascimbene, MD, FACC, FSCAI
TBD Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Texas at Houston, McGovern Medical School Houston, Texas
Gary Owens, PhD
TBD Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Robert M. Berne Endowed Professor, Director of the Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center