by Matt Batcheldor
The Cardiology Core Laboratory for Translational and Clinical Research (CLTCR) biorepository at VUMC recently obtained accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP).
The main function of the lab, which was established in 2009, is to facilitate investigations and support translational and clinical outcome research on cardiovascular diseases. It has become the central biorepository for several large, multi-center clinical trials, including serum, plasma, DNA, RNA, human heart tissue samples and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) lines. The lab is also a key laboratory for blood and DNA sample processing for cardiovascular clinical trials conducted at the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute.
The CLTCR offers experimental services oriented toward the development of new biomarkers and detection/identification of genetic mutations/variations for a diagnostic test or drug response.
The lab’s mission is to provide high-quality, clinically annotated biospecimens via accredited biobanking services to support clinical and translational research, study molecular mechanisms of disease using human biological samples, and to discover new biomarkers for the prevention, early detection and treatment of cardiovascular disease.