Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science
Edward Lakatta, M.D., Chief
The LCS was created in 1985 as an outgrowth of a small (two-person) Cardiovascular Section within the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation (LCI).
The overall goals of the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Sciences are: (1) to identify age associated changes that occur within the cardiovascular system and to determine the mechanisms for these changes; (2) to determine how aging of the heart and vasculature interacts with chronic disease states to enhance the risk for CV diseases in older persons; (3) to study basic mechanisms of excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac myocytes and automaticity in pacemaker cells, and how these are modulated by surface receptor signaling pathways;(4) to elucidate mechanisms that govern cardiac and vascular cell survival; (5) to determine mechanisms that govern neuro-hormonal aspects of hypertension; and (6) to establish the potentials and limitations of new therapeutic approaches such as changes in lifestyle, novel pharmacologic agents or gene or stem cell transfer techniques in aging or cardiovascular disease states. In meeting these objectives, studies are performed in human volunteers, intact animals, isolated heart and vascular tissues, isolated cardiac and vascular cells, and subcellular organelles.
Portfolio/Research Areas
- Human Vascular Studies
- Human Cardiac Studies
- Arterial Studies in Animal Models
- Cardiac Studies in Animal Models
Key Paper
Ahmet I, Tae HJ, Lakatta EG, Talan M. Long-term low dose dietary resveratrol supplement reduces cardiovascular structural and functional deterioration in chronic heart failure in rats. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2017 Mar;95(3):268-274. doi: 10.1139/cjpp-2016-0512. Epub 2016 Dec 17. PMID: 28134561
Recent Publications at PubMed
Publications by Edward Lakatta, M.D. at PubMed
Units/Sections
- Cellular Biophysics Section
- Cardioprotection Section
- Human Cardiovascular Studies Section
- Cardiac Biology Section
- Translational Cardiovascular Studies Section
- Confocal Microscopy Facility