Human Vascular Imaging Core INFS

Overview of Services

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States.  Thus research is vital to better understand the pathophysiology, reduce the incidence, and limit the consequences of CVD.  However, epidemiologic and therapeutic studies that rely on the endpoint of actual CVD events are generally expensive and cumbersome; and thus, usually prohibitive.  Therefore, surrogate markers of CVD have increasingly been used in research.  Physiologic and anatomic vascular imaging measures can provide both mechanistic and predictive information to help guide research and better inform the eventual studies on ‘hard endpoints’ that are needed to improve CVD health.

The Human Vascular Imaging Core (HVIC) currently supports studies involving the assessment of physiologic endothelial function which includes the following services: (1) flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery – a measure of endothelium-dependent vascular reactivity; (2) nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NTGMD) of the brachial artery – a measure of endothelium-independent vascular reactivity.  
Other services that the HVIC offers include carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) – a measure of cumulative arterial injury.  Our services are typically performed at the Clinical Research Center located in IUH University Hospital, but we also are ‘portable’ and can provide the option to perform our services at other locations.  

Offering these services within a single Core, allows interested investigators to more directly access one or more of these services as well as work closely with Core staff to choose which services are most helpful for their particular research needs.  Additionally, it allows standardization of pricing, access to CTSI resources to improve Core services, and permits more broad advertisement throughout the IUPUI research community.

Leadership

Location and hours of operation

Links and Resources

1. Division of Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Program
2. Human Vascular Imaging Core
   

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