Mission Statement

The primary function of the Cardiovascular Pathology Research department is to conduct original research and to support Texas Heart Institute research investigators. The department also provides specialized pathology and histology services (including TEM and SEM) on a fee-for-service basis to other investigators, institutions, and medical companies.

Meet our Department Staff

Compliance

GLP Compliant Laboratory

Services

• Microtomy/Cryotomy, including paraffin and Wasatch Histo GMA technology
• 25+ years experience in paraffin and plastic
• Proficient in GMA embedding, sectioning, and staining
• Necropsy Support
• Multiple board certified MD and DVM Pathologists available
• Large, fully-equipped necropsy suite
• Morphometric Analysis
• Image-Pro system validated for GLP compliance
• Used to evaluate intravascular changes including neointimal changes
• TEM and SEM
• Low-vac SEM and high-vac SEM available (both validated for GLP
  compliance) with EDS system
• 25+ years experience with TEM

Research Projects

Projects include support for:

• Cardiovascular Surgery Research
• Ventricular Assist Devices
• Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass
• Heart Failure Models
• Heart Valves

Cardiology Research:

• Stem cell projects
• Stent delivery systems
• Steerable Sheath Kit Design Validation
• Percutaneous Heart Valve Replacement Technique
• Molecular cardiology
  

CHI St. Luke’s Health - Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center:

• Department of Pathology—TEM clinical support
• Department of Radiology—Percutaneous drug delivery system for treating hepatic tumors; MRI correlates of explanted hearts, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for treating uterine fibroid tumors

Extramural:

• Histology and histopathology support for studies involving stents, valves, aneurysm coils, pacing leads, endovascular devices and lasers, and for clinical biopsy programs
• Clients include REVA Medical, Inc., AccelLab, Alizée Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, UT Houston Medical School, Houston Methodist Research Institute, UC-Davis and UT Health Science Center San Antonio
  

Other Research

• Role of stem cells in infarct healing
• Role of stem cells in aortic aneurysm repair
• Evaluation of imaging modalities for characterization of atherosclerotic lesions

Contact Information and Location

Phone: 832-355-6524

Mailing Address:

Texas Heart Institute
Cardiovascular Pathology Research
MC 1-283
P O Box 20345
Houston, TX 77225-0345