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
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Partnership in Discovery: CVRC and CIC Host AstraZeneca for Two Day Event
A vibrant exchange of scientific discovery and potential strategic collaboration took place February 23–24, 2026 at the University of Virginia, as researchers from AstraZeneca met with faculty from across the School of Medicine. The Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center … Read More
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Antonio Abbate, MD, PhD, Elected to American Society for Clinical Investigation
Antonio Abbate, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine in the UVA Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, has been elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), one of the nation’s most prestigious medical honor societies for physician-scientists. Founded in 1908, … Read More
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Sonkusare Lab postdoc Fênix Araujo, PhD, Recieves AHA Fellowship
Fênix Araujo, PhD, a postdoc in the Sonkusare Lab, was recently awarded a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship Award from the American Heart Association. Her project, “Non-Genomic Effects of Mineralocorticoid Receptor on Smooth Muscle TRPV4 Channels and Blood Pressure”, explores the role … Read More
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Jonathan Lindner, MD, Shares Research Insights With Charlottesville Community
Jonathan Lindner, MD, presented at the monthly U Ask, UVA Answers on January 11. Dr. Lindner, a resident member of the CVRC and Frances Myers Ball Endowed Professor of Medicine, was invited to participate in this lecture series which allows … Read More
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Yen-Lin Chen, PhD, joins faculty of LSU Health Shreveport
Yen-Lin Chen, PhD, a former postdoctoral fellow working with Swapnil Sonkusare, PhD, started his tenure-track position in the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport in January 2026. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Sonkusare … Read More
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Sonkusare Lab Members Receive Awards at NAVBO Meeting
Two members of the Sonkusare Lab received awards at the 2025 meeting of the North American Vascular Biology Society (NAVBO). Maniselvan Kuppusamy, PhD, a Senior Research Scientist, received the Emerging Leaders Award from the Microcirculatory Society. The award recognizes promising early-career … Read More
Career Development – How To Market Yourself
Dr. Kimberly Kelly Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Founder of ZielBio, Editor in Chief of Molecular Imaging and Biology
Julie Freed, MD, PhD
Translational Tales of the Human Microvasculature This presentation will provide an overview of the translational projects beingconducted in the Freed laboratory with particular focus on the importance of studyingthe microvasculature, mechanisms of human microvascular dysfunction, andstrategies in which to increase … Read More
Career Development – Medical Affairs
Joelle Martin, PhD Director, Medical Information and Scientific Communication 4D Molecular Therapeutics
Nikolaos Frangogiannis, MD
TGF-beta signaling cascades in cardiac repair and fibrosis Myocardial fibrosis is a common pathophysiological feature of most cardiac diseases and may be either reparative or maladaptive. This presentation will address: (a) the cellular mediators of cardiac fibrosis; (b) the molecular … Read More
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