Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program (MCRP), University of Arizona, College of Medicine
The Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program (MCRP), an integral part of the Sarver Heart Center at the University of Arizona, focuses on advancing knowledge of the biological and molecular mechanisms underlying heart and skeletal muscle function, cardiovascular disease, and related conditions.
Overview
Founded in 2006, MCRP operates from the 3rd floor of the Medical Research Building on the Arizona Health Sciences Center Campus. The program emphasizes both basic and translational research, striving to transform scientific discoveries into clinical applications to improve the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
In its collaborative "open-lab" environment, researchers employ a wide range of interdisciplinary methods, including Developmental Biology, Cellular, and Molecular Biology, Biophysics, Physiology, Genetics, Bioengineering, Proteomics, live-cell imaging, and computational biology.
MCRP integrates its expertise with other leading research entities at the University of Arizona, including the Sarver Heart Center, the BIO5 Research Institute, and various departments within the Arizona Health Sciences Center.
Training and Funding
MCRP provides a robust training environment for undergraduates, medical students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and residents. Its research is supported by the National Institutes of Health (10 R01 grants, F31/32), the American Heart Association (pre-and post-doctoral training grants, career development grants), private donations, and other granting agencies.
MCRP Research Laboratories
Churko Laboratory
Focus: Mechanisms of heart disease using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) to generate cardiac cell types. The lab develops precision and regenerative medicine tools and studies protein dynamics involved in muscle contraction and dysfunction.
Granzier Laboratory
Focus: The structure and function of titin and nebulin, large muscle proteins. Research spans single-molecule mechanics, RNA sequencing, muscle mechanics, and whole-heart physiology, with applications in basic and translational science.
Hamilton Laboratory
Focus: Molecular mechanisms of calcium regulation in healthy and diseased hearts. The goal is to uncover novel therapeutic strategies to treat arrhythmias and heart disease.
Harris Laboratory
Focus: Regulation of contractile proteins in muscle sarcomeres. Investigates how dysregulation contributes to diseases such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Konhilas Laboratory
Focus: Molecular mechanisms underlying sex differences in cardiac disease due to hypertension, myocardial infarction, and cardiomyopathies.
Ottenheijm Laboratory
Focus: Diaphragm dysfunction caused by respiratory disease. Research explores the molecular mechanisms behind diaphragm weakness, particularly the role of titin as a mechanosensor protein.
Pappas Laboratory
Focus: Regulation of actin-thin filament architecture in cardiac and skeletal muscle development. Studies mutations in proteins involved in this process and their role in human myopathies.
Sadayappan Laboratory
Focus: The role of myosin binding protein-C (MyBP-C) in the structure, regulation, and function of striated muscles in both cardiac and skeletal tissues.
Tardiff Laboratory
Focus: Links between structural and functional changes in cardiac thin filament proteins and the cardiovascular phenotypes in patients with HCM.
The Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program embodies a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, driving advancements in cardiovascular research and education to improve patient care and outcomes. Additional details can be found at: https://mcrp.med.arizona.edu .
MCRP Core facilities
The Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program runs the University of Arizona Phenotyping Core (UAPC) which provides resources to investigate phenotypes of genetically altered mice (and rats guinea pig, etc) animal models of disease. The phenotyping core offers investigators full-service support of in vivo cardiovascular and physiology studies in normal and diseased states through surgical models, imaging techniques, and functional physiological assessments. In order to offer the most thorough analysis of mouse physiology, it utilizes state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, including: Microsurgical operating rooms, Visualsonics Vevo 3100 and F2 echocardiography systems, Scisense pressure-volume admittance catheters for cardiac catheterization and pressure-volume analysis, Automated treadmill system, voluntary running cages, and swimming chambers for exercise studies, Modalities for assessment of disease states including ischemia/reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, volume overload, and pressure overload, Whole body Plethysmography for respiration studies, Mouse muscle test systems to study muscle function and mechanics in situ, ex vivo, or in vitro, DSI blood pressure and biopotential telemetry system. Dr. Marloes van der Berg is the scientist who runs the core. Additional phenotyping core information can be found at http://phenotyping.ahsc.arizona.edu .
The Genetic Engineering of Mouse Models (GEMM) Core is in the Keating building, physically connected to MRB. The GEMM core provides full service - Gene to Whiskers- mouse genetic engineering services to MCRP researchers and beyond. These services provide CRISPR-based gene edited mice, ES-cell based gene targeted mice, and transgenic mice. As a full-service University Core, the GEMM Core provides guide RNA or vector design & construction, prior to production of the mice. The GEMM Core has provided engineered alleles for knockouts, conditional knockouts, SNP knockins, tag and marker insertions, motif deletions, domain duplication, and transgenic alleles. The Core also provides embryo derivation, strain cryopreservation, and cyrostorage services. Dr. Georgiva is the scientist who runs the core. Further details in http://bit.ly/GEMMCoreiLab.
The University of Arizona Viral Vector Core (VCC) is housed in the Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program and functions as a full-service unit for construct design and production, viral purification and titer quantification. It produces custom recombinant adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, and lentivirus. The core provides specialized knowledge and skills, and offers access to gene transfer, from isolated primary cell to whole animal levels. The core is well-equipped and is run by a dedicated PhD-level Research Specialist (Dr. Olga Alekhina). Additional details in https://viralcore.cmm.arizona.edu.
For more information, please visit the Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program website.