The University of Colorado Cardiovascular Institute (CU-CVI), founded  by Co-Directors, Michael Bristow MD, PhD and Leslie Leinwand PhD in 1998,  serves to bring together physicians, basic molecular biologists, and geneticists to share valuable information, and initiate both effective treatment programs and preventive therapies. CU-CVI is composed of both extramural branches with laboratories of investigators based at the University campuses, and an intramural branch which specializes in molecular genetics and clinical aspects  at the CU Fitzsimons campus in Aurora.

Such collaborations provide unique investigative potential by networking on high-quality and large-scale cardiovascular research. By integrating the effort of those committed to curing heart muscle disease and heart failure, the collaborative nature of the Institute encourages the sharing of findings and data, which ultimately translate into improved treatments and therapies of patients, and quality training and education.

The scientific goals of the Institute are 1) to understand the genetic basis and specific molecular mechanisms responsible for heart muscle disease and heart failure and 2) to produce new diagnostic techniques and treatments for patients. 

CU-CVI also boasts an in-house cardiac tissue bank and functional genomics database, which contain one of the largest human tissue collections in the world from explanted human hearts. Physicians and researchers world-wide benefit from the new discoveries and diagnostic techniques innovated through this unique opportunity.

For an example of our new and innovative research and planning, click here below:

COMPANION (COmparison of Medical Therapy, Pacing, AND DefibrillatION in Heart Failure) slides, in press 2004.

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