Cardiovascular Research Center

Mission

According to 1993 estimates 60,340,000 Americans have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease. 954,138 deaths from cardiovascular disease were reported in 1993 (42.1 percent of all deaths). More than one sixth of all peopled killed by cardiovascular disease are under the age of 65. High blood pressure and coronary artery disease are the leading cause of cardiovascular death and disability. 13,490,000 people alive today have a history of heart attack, angina pectoris (chest pain) or both. This year as many a 1,500,000 Americans will have a new or recurrent heart attack, and about one third of them will die. The mortality rate from heart disease in Nebraska is 317/100,000 population while the national average is 281/100,000. Nebraska is also higher for the incidence of stroke. Congestive heart failure is epidemic in our society with as many as 4.8 million Americans suffering from this malady. 50% of these individuals will die within 3 years of diagnosis. 400,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Congestive heart failure is the number one hospital admission diagnosis for individuals over 65 years of age. As the average age of our population continues to rise heart failure will become a more important health care concern.

These gruesome statistics point to the need for enhanced cardiovascular research nationwide and in the State of Nebraska.

What is the goal of the UNMC Cardiovascular Research Center?

The UNMC Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC) is an entity designed to enhance research efforts on the mechanisms of cardiovascular disease with the ultimate goal of creating new knowledge in order to provide better care and ultimately cures for patients with diseases of the heart and blood vessels. It was formed as an outgrowth of the University of Nebraska College of Medicine and Medical Center’s strategic planning process. One of the primary goals of the CVRC is to actively and aggressively promote the preparation and submission of multi-disciplinary collaborative extramural research grants. Through a process of continual interaction and communication between cardiovascular investigators at UNMC we will ultimately enhance the funding level for cardiovascular research at UNMC.

Why is the UNMC CVRC important?

Many faculty at UNMC conduct research that is related to disorders of the cardiovascular system. This research is funded from a variety of sources including the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, Pharmaceutical Companies and many others. It is critical that these investigators share information in order to optimize their productivity. Collaborative efforts in research projects lead to cooperative grant applications, generation of new ideas and an enhanced patient confidence in the cardiovascular clinical programs. The UNMC CVRC will provide an academic focus to the outstanding clinical care provided by cardiologists and surgeons at UNMC. This academic focus will ultimately enhance the quality of patient care, attracting additional patients to UNMC for cardiovascular treatment. Finally, the UNMC CVRC will serve as an umbrella organization for distributing acquired funds to researchers, students and post-doctoral Fellows.

What is the administrative structure of the UNMC CVRC?

Administratively, the CVRC is composed of a Director, an Associate Director and a steering committee. The steering committee is composed of clinical and basic science faculty who are engaged in cardiovascular research. The steering committee, under the direction of the director provides advise on programs, fund raising and the distribution of any funds that are earmarked for control by the CVRC.

Which faculty are part of the UNMC CVRC?

All faculty on the UNMC campus may be part of the CVRC if they are actively engaged in cardiovascular related research. Cardiovascular related research is defined broadly. It includes both basic science and clinical research on the mechanisms of disease which relate to the cardiovascular system. In addition, pharmacological and drug therapy trials constitute appropriate research projects. As new faculty come to UNMC they may become part of the CVRC after documenting involvement in cardiovascular research.

Are students and fellows a part of the UNMC CVRC?

Part of the mission of the UNMC CVRC is to enhance graduate education in cardiovascular biology. Graduate students and post-doctoral fellows as well as cardiology fellows will be an integral part of the CVRC. A significant fraction of the funds we acquire through competitive grants, donations, etc. will be used to support graduate training in the cardiovascular area. The CVRC will distribute these funds based on the quality of the research proposed and the need for funding in a given laboratory, section or unit.

What are the other functions of the UNMC CVRC?

In addition to collaborative research and funding students and fellows, the CVRC will organize and obtain support for an annual cardiovascular research symposium which will highlight the research of all cardiovascular investigators on this campus. In addition, the CVRC will promote the establishment of small study groups in which individuals interested in specific areas of cardiovascular biology can meet on a regular basis to share ideas and review data.

Recent accomplishments and future goals of the CVRC.

Several short and long term goals for the CVRC have been considered to have a major impact on cardiovascular research at UNMC. Over the past year UNMC has:

1. Recruited a research oriented Chief of Cardiology who can effectively motivate faculty to carry out clinical and basic research while maintaining a high level of clinical care in cardiology.
2. Acquired a cardiovascular research training grant from the National Institutes of Health in order to provide a nidus of funding for pre and post-doctoral students in cardiovascular biology.
3. Funds have been obtained to support four endowed professorships in cardiovascular science and cardiology. These funds will be used to enhance the research productivity of senior faculty who lead groups of investigators in important areas of cardiovascular medicine and/or biology.

Over the next several years our goals will be to:

1. Acquire funds for the renovation and/or construction of new laboratory space which will be dedicated to cardiovascular research. For instance, a core laboratory dedicated to issues of molecular and genetic cardiology should be constructed. Space is desperately needed in order to attract new investigators and to help those productive investigators expand their research effort. Hopefully contiguous space can be found or created so that the CVRC can be a discrete, identifiable entity at UNMC.
2. It is the vision of UNMC to create a CVRC that will ultimately be internationally known for its excellence in research, in training and in state-of-the-art clinical care.The UNMC CVRC should be sanctioned by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. UNMC should be the premier referral center for cardiovascular medicine in the State of Nebraska. The highest priority should be to provide the funds for the recruitment of world class clinical and basic investigators in cardiovascular medicine and biology. Through the hard work of dedicated faculty, administrators and benefactors this vision will become a reality.

How can one contribute to the UNMC CVRC?

There are two ways individuals can help to support the CVRC. One way is to acknowledge the importance of the cardiovascular research effort at UNMC. Individuals can make an impact on the level of legislative and University support for the CVRC. Talking and writing to state senators and members of the Board of Regents can be helpful in achieving institute status for the CVRC. The second way one can support the CVRC is by direct contributions to support the purchase of equipment and supplies, the renovation of laboratory space, the support of students, fellows and professors. Inquires into this process should be directed to the Director of the UNMC CVRC at (402) 559 7161; FAX (402) 559 4438 or you can EMAIL:izucker@unmc.edu