Our Mission

The Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center was established to expand basic, translational, and clinical research of cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases, including congestive heart failure, hypertension, atherosclerosis, stroke, aneurysms, and vascular auto-immune diseases are the most common cause of death and disability in the United States, and account for approximately 30% of deaths and health care costs annually in this country and developed societies.

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

Brant Isakson, PhD, Receives Prestigious 2024 Robert M. Berne Distinguished Lectureship of the American Physiological Society
Brant Isakson, PhD, Receives Prestigious 2024 Robert M. Berne Distinguished Lectureship of the American Physiological Society

Brant Isakson, PhD, a professor of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics and member of the Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, has received the 2024 Robert M. Berne Distinguished Lectureship of the American Physiological Society Dr. Isakson’s laboratory made the … Read More

Gary Owens of the Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC) Awarded 3.2 Million R01 Grant
Gary Owens of the Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC) Awarded 3.2 Million R01 Grant

Role of IL-6 trans signaling in atherosclerosis development and late-stage pathogenesis Thromboembolic events secondary to rupture or erosion of advanced atherosclerotic lesions are the underlying cause of most heart attacks or stroke and are the leading cause of death in … Read More

Brant Isakson of the Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC) Awarded 3.5 Million R01 studying role of endothelium in sepsis
Brant Isakson of the Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC) Awarded 3.5 Million R01 studying role of endothelium in sepsis

Sepsis accounts for more hospital deaths per year than any other condition in the United States, and the disease is currently devoid of any targeted pharmacological intervention. Critical to understanding how inflammation affects vascular barrier function is that endothelial cells … Read More

Dr. Eyleen O’Rourke and her team identify a promising approach to delay aging by detoxifying the body of glycerol and glyceraldehyde
Dr. Eyleen O’Rourke and her team identify a promising approach to delay aging by detoxifying the body of glycerol and glyceraldehyde

University of Virginia scientists have identified a promising approach to delay aging by detoxifying the body of glycerol and glyceraldehyde, harmful by-products of fat that naturally accumulate over time. The new findings come from UVA researcher Eyleen Jorgelina O’Rourke, PhD, … Read More


H. Llewelyn (Llew) Roderick B.Sc., Ph.D.

Targeting the epigenome to increase cardiomyocyte proliferation and cardiac regeneration Epigenomic remodelling during cardiomyocyte maturation serves to suppress fetally expressed genes and promote the expression of genes necessary for adult function. Genes involved in cell cycle activity that are expressed … Read More

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