Areas of Research

Research interests include use of anti-thrombotic agents in acute myocardial infarction, e.g., TIMI-50, and rapid diagnosis of acute myocardial ischemia/infarction using cardiac imaging techniques, e.g., ROMICAT II.

Active investigators: D. Fintel, J. Flaherty, I. Mikati

Research interests include transcatheter aortic and mitral valve therapies, e.g., PARTNERS I & II, SALUS, and COAPT, translational studies investigating regenerative therapy for ischemic heart disease using both stem cells and gene transfer therapies.  Our structural heart disease program now includes transcatheter closure of atrial and ventricular septal defects and paravalvular leaks utilizing our hybrid catheterization laboratory. Our renal denervation program – SIMPLICITY III & IV is robust and we are working to investigate the benefit of RDN in other disease states.

Active investigators: R. Sweis, K. Benzuly, C. Davidson

The research interests of the Cardiac Electrophysiology (EP) group at Northwestern are focused on interventional therapies to treat heart rhythm disorders. These therapies include catheter ablation for complex arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT), the use of cryoballoon ablation for pulmonary vein isolation, epicardial approaches to catheter ablation, strategies to ablate persistent AF, and left atrial appendage occlusion using plug-based and suture-snare devices as a nonpharmacological therapy for stroke prevention in high risk patients with AF. Other research interests include the development of extravascular implantable electrical devices that can be implanted in the subcutaneous and substernal spaces for pacing and defibrillation in patients at high risk for sudden cardiac arrest, and the use of implantable and external rhythm monitors to allow for personalized anticoagulation therapy in patients with AF. Northwestern has participated in several clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of new technologies for patients with heart rhythm disorders, and was the first center in Illinois to implant the Micra™ leadless pacemaker and the Watchman™ left atrial appendage occlusion device after FDA approval. Dr. Arora and his experimental EP lab team are actively investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying AF in order to develop new, biological (gene-based) approaches to treat AF. He and his group have identified several key mechanisms that underlie AF using novel gene constructs to selectively target each of these mechanisms in clinically relevant, large animal models of AF.

Active investigators: B. Knight, R. Passman, R. Arora, A. Lin, S. Kim, A. Chicos, N. Verma

The Division of Cardiology, Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute, and Department of Radiology is actively using CMR techniques to study post heart transplant graft function;, to detect acute rejection non-invasively; and to diagnose transplant vasculopathy. CMR, especially using 4D formats, is also at the forefront in our Cardiomyopathy Program including the study of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, non-compaction cardiomyopathies and  a variety of infiltration cardiomyopathies;  we also have an active interest in competitive athletes and screening for sudden death risk. Finally, the Northwestern actively collaborates with multicenter trials to provide critical review of important imaging data in the construct of contemporary clinical investigators.

Active investigators: D. Lee, J. Carr, M. Markl

Our echocardiography laboratory utilizes its high through-put clinical enterprise  to study left ventricular dysfunction, the cardio-oncology interface and bicuspid aortic valve disease. Additionally, the imaging labs at Northwestern participate collaboratively with the Interventional Labs, especially with regards to transcutaneous valve repair/replacement.

Active investigators: V. Rigolin, B. Freed, I. Mikati, J. Puthumana, N. Akhter, S. Shah

Our heart failure service encompasses the full array of left, right and biventricular failure and is actively exploring pulmonary hypertension, heart failure with preserved ventricular function, advanced heart failure, device therapy, mechanical filtration strategies, quality of care and translational investigations with regenerative therapies.  An area of active investigation is in phenomapping of patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction. This novel approach is providing greater fidelity in the assessment of risk and the determination of prognosis. For the recently completed TOPCAT trial we were among the lead enrolling sites in North America. Going forward the heart failure section at Northwestern will now have a formalized collaboration with the NHLBI Heart Failure Research Network.

Active investigators: J. Rich, S. Shah, C. Yancy

Research interests include testing new pharmacologic stress agents, evaluating the prognostic value of perfusion imaging in a variety of patient subgroups, and using SPECT imaging to assess myocardial viability in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.  

Active investigators: T. Holly, D. Fintel, L. Choudhury

The Division of Cardiology has a close collaborative relationship with the Department of Preventive Medicine. Cardiologists with dual appointments are studying the lifetime risks for cardiovascular disease, polypill technologies to impact global health, the benefits and risks associated with HDL biology and unique risk characteristics in special populations.

Active investigators: J. Wilkins, M. Huffman, N. Stone, P. Vassallo, D. Lloyd-Jones

The basic science research in the Division of Cardiology is conducted by investigators at the Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute (FCVRI).  The overall goal of FCVRI is to devise new therapies for cardiovascular disease, study the mechanism of cardiac damage in ischemic heart disease, and to translate basic science findings to clinical practice.  Dr. Sue Quaggin, an internationally respected vascular biologist, is the director of FCVRI, and has assembled a multi-disciplinary program to accomplish the scientific missions of the Institute.  Research interests at FCVRI include use of gene therapy and novel pharmacological agents to enhance the therapeutic potential of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), understanding the mechanism of inflammatory gene expression in myocardial injury and rupture, epigenetic reprogramming of somatic cells to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), understanding the role of metabolic enzymes and mitochondria in cardiovascular disease, and studying the role of micro RNAs in cardiovascular disease.  Other research interests include and the role of geminin protein in cell cycle progression, the role of iron metabolism in cardiac function and understanding the mechanisms of cardiovascular development and lineage specification of cardiovascular progenitors.

Active investigators: S. Quaggin, H. Ardehali, R. Arora, K. Mutharasan