2. Program Overview
The National Heart Institute
(NHI) was established in 1948 through the National Heart Act with a mission to
support research and training in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Twenty-four years later—through section 413 of
the National Heart, Blood Vessel, Lung, and Blood Act (P.L. 92-423)—Congress
mandated the Institute to expand and coordinate its activities in an
accelerated attack against heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases. The
renamed National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) expanded its scientific
areas of interest and intensified its efforts related to research on diseases
within its purview. Over the years, the Institute’s areas of interest have
grown to encompass genetic, genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic research;
systems biology; sleep disorders; and the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI).
The NHLBI provides global
leadership for research, training, and education programs to promote the
prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases and enhance the
health of all individuals so that they can live longer and more fulfilling
lives.
The NHLBI stimulates basic
discoveries about the causes of disease, enables the translation of basic
discoveries into clinical practice, fosters training and mentoring of emerging
scientists and physicians, and communicates research advances to the public.
It creates and supports a robust, collaborative research infrastructure in
partnership with private and public organizations, including academic
institutions, industry, and other government agencies. The Institute
collaborates with patients, families, health care professionals, scientists,
professional societies, patient advocacy groups, community organizations, and
the media to promote the application of research results and leverage resources
to address the health needs of the public. The NHLBI also collaborates with
international organizations to help reduce the burden of heart, lung, and blood
diseases worldwide.
Each year, the NHLBI assesses
progress in the scientific areas for which it is responsible and updates its
goals and objectives. As new opportunities are identified, the Institute
expands and revises its areas of interest. Throughout the process, the
approach used by the Institute is an orderly sequence of research activities
that includes:
- Acquisition of knowledge
- Evaluation of knowledge
- Application of knowledge
- Dissemination of knowledge
NHLBI Programs
The programs of the NHLBI, as
shown in the following table, are implemented through four extramural units:
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences (DCVS)
- Division of Lung Diseases (DLD)
- Division of Blood Diseases and Resources (DBDR)
- Division for the Application of Research
Discoveries (DARD)
and one intramural unit:
- Division of Intramural Research (DIR)
The extramural divisions use a
variety of funding mechanisms, such as individual research project grants,
cooperative agreements, program project grants, Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR) grants, Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants,
Specialized Centers of Clinically Oriented Research (SCCOR) grants,
comprehensive center grants, contracts, and research training and career
development grants.
In fiscal year (FY) 2010, the
DCVS was created by combining two previously existing divisions—the Division of
Cardiovascular Diseases and the Division of Prevention and Population
Sciences—so that the administrative structure would better match the dynamic
interaction that exists among basic, clinical, and population sciences.
Because the areas addressed by the two previous divisions are closely linked,
the Institute believed that merging the two Divisions would stimulate the
collaborative efforts that are needed to advance cardiovascular research.
Descriptions of the Divisions follow.
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Programs Supported by the
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute |
Advanced Technologies and
Surgery Diagnostics Development
Emerging Therapeutics
Enabling Technologies
Surgical Advances
Atherothrombosis and Coronary Artery Disease
Acute and Chronic Coronary
Syndromes
Acute and Silent Ischemia
Angina
Atherothrombosis
Coronary Artery Disease
Myocardial Infarction
Revascularization
Clinical Applications and Prevention
Behavioral Medicine
Prevention of
Cardiovascular Disorders
Obesity Health Outcomes
Epidemiology
Analytical Resources
Field Studies and Clinical
Epidemiology
Genetic Epidemiology
Heart Development and Structural Disease
Adult Congenital Disease
Cardiac Immunology and
Infection
Cardiovascular Development
Heart Transplantation
Pediatric Cardiovascular
Disease
Valvular Heart Disease
Heart Failure and Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias
Heart Failure
Myocardial Protection
Resuscitation
Sudden Cardiac Death
Vascular Biology and Hypertension
Aneurysms
Cerebrovascular
Disease
Hypertension
Lymphatic Diseases
Peripheral Vascular
Disease
Renal Vascular Disease
Vascular Biology
Vascular Development
and Angiogenesis
Venous Disease
Women's Health Initiative
Hormone Therapy Trial
Dietary Modification Trial
Calcium and Vitamin D Trial
Observational Study
Memory Study |
Airway Biology and
Disease Asthma
Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Environmental Lung Diseases
Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
Genetics, Genomics, and
Biotechnology
Lung Biology and Disease
Acquired Immunodeficiency
Syndrome (AIDS) and Tuberculosis (TB)
Critical Care and Acute
Lung Injury
Developmental Biology and
Pediatric Lung Disease
Immunology and Fibrosis
Lung Cell and Vascular
Biology
National Center on Sleep Disorders Research
Neurobiology and Sleep
Sleep Disorders Medicine
Blood Diseases and
Resources |
Blood Diseases
Blood Diseases
Anemias
Erythropoiesis
Malaria
Red Cells
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)
Thalassemia
Thrombosis and Hemostasis
Hematologic Immune
Disorders
Hemophilia and Other
Bleeding Disorders
Hemostasis
Immunity and Inflammation
Thrombosis
Transfusion
Medicine and Cellular Therapeutics
Hematopoietic Stem Cell
Transplantation
Immune Deficiencies,
Reconstitution, Response, and Tolerance
Myelodysplasia, Marrow
Failure, and Myeloproliferative Disorders
Novel Cellular Therapies
for Repair and Regeneration
Stem Cell Biology
Transfusion Medicine Use,
Safety, and Availability of Blood and Blood Components
|
Application of
Research Discoveries |
Research Translation Branch
Research Translation Branch
Clinical Practice
Guidelines
Development for Heart,
Lung, and Blood Topics
Implementation for
Heart, Lung, and Blood Topics
Knowledge Exchange Networks
Enhanced Dissemination and Utilization Branch
Community Health Promotion
Childhood Obesity
Prevention
Health Disparities
Reduction
Program Evaluations
Clinical Research
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Hematology
Pulmonary and Vascular
Medicine
Translational Medicine
Laboratory Research
Biochemistry and Biophysics
Cell Biology and Physiology
Genetics and Development
Biology
Immunology |
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Division of Cardiovascular
Sciences
The DCVS supports basic,
clinical, population, and health services research on the causes, prevention,
and treatment of CVD and technology development for its diagnosis and
treatment. The Division fosters research in atherothrombosis, coronary artery
disease, myocardial infarction and ischemia, heart failure, arrhythmia, sudden
cardiac death, adult and pediatric congenital heart disease, high blood
pressure, stroke, cardiovascular complications of diabetes and obesity, and
other cardiovascular disorders. A SCCOR supports clinical collaborative
research in vascular injury, repair, and remodeling, and a Centers Program
supports cardiac translational research associated with preventing and treating
heart failure and arrhythmias.
The Division’s research
portfolio includes a number of well-known epidemiological cohort studies that
describe disease and risk factor patterns in populations; clinical trials of
interventions to prevent disease and to reduce or eliminate risk factors;
studies of the influence of genetic, behavioral, sociocultural, environmental,
and health systems factors on disease risk and outcomes; and studies of the
application of prevention and treatment strategies to determine ways to improve
clinical care and public health. The Division also supports research training
and career development in these areas.
In addition to the Office of the
Director, the Division is organized into three Programs, eight Branches, and
three Offices, which are described below.
Basic and Early Translational Research Program
The Basic and Early
Translational Research Program supports research and research training and
career development in vascular biology and hypertension, cardiovascular
surgery, and development of advanced technologies for the diagnosis and
treatment of CVD. The portfolio includes an integrated basic and clinical
research program to study the biological basis for vascular diseases and
hypertension and their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Research on
cardiovascular surgery includes both basic and preclinical research on surgical
approaches and clinical trials to establish evidence-based surgical therapies.
The development of diagnostics encompasses research on biosensors, imaging
technologies, and the application of “omic” methodologies. Therapeutic
development includes drug and nucleic acid delivery technologies, regenerative
and reparative medicine, gene therapy, and device development.
The Program is divided into the
two branches described below.
Advanced Technologies and Surgery Branch
The Advanced Technologies and
Surgery Branch supports integrated basic, translational, and clinical research
to develop technologies for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of CVD.
Research on diagnostics focuses on proteomic, genomic, and other biomarker
technologies and on imaging modalities and agents. Therapeutics research
focuses on tissue-, cell-, and gene-based therapies; regenerative and
reparative medicine; image-guided therapies; and cardiac and circulatory
support and repair devices. Research related to surgery addresses improved
surgical and image-guided therapies and the translation of cardiovascular
surgical advances into clinical practice. Enabling technologies research
includes bioinformatics, computational and systems biology, bioengineering,
nanotechnology, materials research, and personalized medicine.
Vascular Biology and Hypertension Branch
The Vascular Biology and
Hypertension Branch supports integrated basic, translational, and clinical
research on the etiology, pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
vascular diseases and hypertension. Vascular biology focuses on angiogenesis;
development and repair of arteries, veins, lymphatics, and microcirculation;
and biology of the endothelium and other vascular wall components. Vascular
disease research focuses on diseases affecting peripheral (non-coronary)
arteries, including the aorta and cerebral, renal, and limb vessels; veins; and
lymphatics. Hypertension research focuses on the study of blood pressure
regulation—including central, renal, and vascular control—and end organ damage
resulting from high blood pressure.
Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Research Program
The Adult and Pediatric Cardiac
Research Program supports and provides leadership for basic, translational, and
clinical research on development, maturation, and functioning of the heart
throughout all stages of life. Areas of research include cardiac development
and maturation, myocyte structure and function, myocardial energetics and
metabolism, cardiac electrophysiology, coronary artery structure and function,
the failing heart, valvular heart disease, exercise physiology, nutrition and
the heart, congenital heart disease from birth through adulthood, the
intrauterine environment and cardiovascular risk, cardiomyopathy,
atherothrombosis, and coronary artery disease. A major function of the Program
is to provide collaborative leadership for systematic oversight of clinical
research across the Division, including clinical research information
technology and standard but flexible operating procedures.
The Program is organized into
the three branches described below.
Atherothrombosis and Coronary Artery Disease
Branch
The Atherothrombosis and
Coronary Artery Disease Branch conducts and manages an integrated basic and
clinical research program to study the etiology, pathogenesis, prevention,
diagnosis, and treatment of coronary artery disease and atherothrombosis.
Research on coronary artery disease focuses on acute and chronic coronary
syndromes, including myocardial infarction; acute ischemia, angina, and silent
ischemia; and percutaneous and surgical revascularization of stenotic and
restenotic coronary lesions. Atherothrombosis research investigates
atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries and other arterial beds; lipid
fractions and interactions with the arterial wall; lesion instability,
vulnerable plaques, and thrombosis; and biomarker and imaging diagnostics to
quantify plaque and atherosclerosis progression. Atherothrombosis research
also includes studies of diet, exercise, diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic
conditions related to atherothrombosis.
Heart Development and Structural Diseases Branch
The Heart Development and
Structural Diseases Branch supports integrated basic and clinical research on
normal and abnormal cardiovascular development and the etiology, pathogenesis,
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric and adult structural heart
disease. Research areas in heart development include normal and abnormal
development, molecular and genetic etiology of cardiovascular malformations,
cardiomyogenic differentiation of stem cells, and gene–environment interactions
in the development of congenital heart disease. Structural disease research
includes the investigation of congenital heart disease, from embryology through
adulthood, and the associated exercise physiology and neurodevelopmental
outcomes; valve disease; pediatric cardiomyopathy and heart transplantation;
and pediatric cardiac inflammation and infection.
Heart Failure and Arrhythmias Branch
The Heart Failure and
Arrhythmias Branch supports integrated basic and clinical research on normal
and abnormal cardiac function to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
of heart failure and arrhythmias and to protect the myocardium and manage
resuscitation. Heart failure research addresses the pathogenesis and treatment
of heart failure and cardiomyopathies, including use of devices, medical
treatments, and cell-based therapies. Arrhythmias research investigates the
etiology of rare and common arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, and
arrhythmogenesis and explores the genetic and environmental bases of normal
cardiac electrical activity. Myocardium protection research focuses on
stunning and hibernation, ischemic/reperfusion injury, and preconditioning.
Resuscitation research includes the study of whole-body oxygen deprivation;
organ preservation; and cell, tissue, and organ protection during cardiac
arrest and traumatic shock.
Prevention and Population Sciences Program
The Prevention and Population
Sciences Program supports and provides leadership for population- and
clinic-based research on the causes, prevention, and clinical care of
cardiovascular, lung, and blood diseases and sleep disorders; it also supports
research training and career development in these areas. Areas of research
include epidemiological studies to describe disease and risk factor patterns in
populations and identify risk factors for disease; clinical trials of
interventions to prevent disease; genetic, behavioral, sociocultural, and
environmental influences on disease risk and outcomes; and application of
prevention and treatment strategies to determine ways to improve clinical care
and public health.
The Program is organized into
the three branches and three offices described below.
Clinical Applications and Prevention Branch
The Clinical Applications and
Prevention Branch supports, designs, and conducts research on behavioral,
environmental, clinical, and health care approaches to reduce the occurrence
and consequences of CVD. Prevention research examines the effectiveness of
interventions to slow or halt risk factor or disease development or
progression. Interventions—many of which focus on high-risk individuals and
populations—include medications, behavioral strategies, and environmental
change. Studies to examine lifestyle, nutrition and exercise, psychological
and sociocultural factors, and environmental and genetic influences are
relevant to prevention and are supported. Clinical application research
examines approaches to improve health care delivery and patient outcomes in
clinical and community trials and observational studies.
Epidemiology Branch
The Epidemiology Branch
supports, designs, and conducts research on the epidemiology of cardiovascular,
lung, and blood diseases and sleep disorders. Studies are conducted to
identify temporal trends and population patterns in the prevalence, incidence,
morbidity, and mortality from the diseases and include single- and multicenter
observational epidemiologic studies of development, progression, and treatment
of cardiovascular, lung, and blood diseases and sleep disorders. Areas of
emphasis include environmental, lifestyle, physiological, and genetic risk
factors for disease and risk factor development including characterization of
gene–gene and gene–environment interactions. Large cohorts of minority
participants, such as Hispanics and blacks, have been assembled to explore
health disparities in minorities. The Branch also distributes data from
eligible NHLBI studies to researchers through a process that adheres to
guidelines for the protection of participant privacy and confidentiality.
Women's Health Initiative Branch
The Women’s Health Initiative
Branch—in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National
Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the
National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and the Office of Research on Women’s Health
(ORWH)—supports clinical trials and observational studies to improve the
understanding of the causes and prevention of major diseases affecting the
health of women. Studies focus on CVD, cancer, and fractures. Large
multicenter observational studies seek to identify risk markers for disease or
to better quantify known markers using questionnaires, clinical examinations,
and laboratory data. The large and long-term multicenter clinical trials
tested promising but unproven interventions—such as hormone therapy, diet, and
supplements—to prevent major diseases and evaluate overall effects on health.
Currently, the program is determining the long-term effects of prior hormone
therapy on the cohort that participated in the clinical trials of hormone
therapy. The Branch has established an infrastructure to support the use of
data and blood samples from the studies by the scientific community.
The
Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS), an ancillary study to the WHI,
was designed to test whether hormone therapy prevents the development and
progression of dementia symptoms in postmenopausal women.
Office of Biostatistics Research
The Office of Biostatistics
Research (OBR) provides statistical expertise to the Institute and performs
diverse functions in planning, designing, implementing, and analyzing
NHLBI-sponsored studies. Its primary responsibility is to provide objective,
statistically sound, and medically relevant solutions to problems. The OBR is
expected to provide a new and valid statistical solution when presented with a
problem for which techniques are not yet available. Its methodological
interests concern survival analysis; longitudinal data analysis; and efficient
study designs, including the monitoring of ongoing clinical studies for
efficacy and safety. The OBR has recently made contributions to statistical
genetics and has extended its expertise to bioinformatics.
Office of Research Training and Career Development
The Office of Research Training
and Career Development supports training and career development programs in
cardiovascular research for individuals at all educational levels, from high
school students to faculty. It collaborates with the scientific community and
professional organizations to ensure that its programs meet the needs of young
scientists from diverse backgrounds. Activities include institutional and
individual research training programs and fellowships; diversity supplements to
provide mentored experiences with established research scientists; the Pathway
to Independence Program, which allows recipients to bridge the gap between a
career development award and a research award; and career development programs
designed for clinical research.
Office of Special Projects
The Office of Special Projects
represents the DCVS on NHLBI and NIH policy committees; oversees and works with
Division leadership on selected activities of the DCVS clinical studies
portfolio; fosters communication within DCVS by developing and coordinating Division-wide
and Institute-wide interest groups on various topics; develops and implements
specific cross-cutting projects; and provides expert consultation as needed for
large-scale projects or initiative development.
Division of Lung Diseases
The DLD supports research on the
causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of lung diseases and sleep
disorders. Research is funded through investigator- and Institute-initiated
grants and contracts in such disease areas as asthma, bronchopulmonary
dysplasia, COPD, CF, sleep-disordered breathing, critical care and acute lung
injury, developmental biology and pediatric pulmonary diseases, immunologic and
fibrotic pulmonary disease, rare lung disorders, pulmonary vascular disease,
and pulmonary complications of AIDS and tuberculosis. SCCORs support
collaborative studies on COPD and pulmonary vascular disease. A Centers
Program supports research on advanced diagnostics and experimental therapeutics
in lung diseases.
The Division also supports
demonstration and dissemination projects to transfer basic research and
clinical findings to health care professionals and patients, and training and
career development programs for individuals interested in furthering their
professional abilities in lung disease research. The DLD, through the National
Center on Sleep Disorders Research, coordinates sleep research activities
across the NIH, other Federal Agencies, and outside organizations.
The Division is organized into
the three Branches described below.
Airway Biology and Disease Branch
The Airway Biology and Disease
Branch supports basic and clinical research and research training in asthma,
COPD, CF, and airway function in health and disease. The Branch supports
innovative genetics, genomics, and biotechnology programs to advance discovery
of lung disease risk factors, mechanisms, and treatment. It also funds applied
studies to develop new methods of lung imaging. Health education research and
demonstration and education projects for the management of asthma and COPD are additional
areas of focus.
Asthma research investigates the
origins, pathogenesis, and management of asthma, including the role of
immunologic and nonimmunologic events and inflammation in its pathogenesis;
genetics of asthma and atopy; airway remodeling and repair in asthma;
mechanisms of severe asthma; and regulation of mucous hypersecretion and mucous
cell metaplasia.
Research on COPD and other
diseases of the lung related to smoking or environmental exposures explores
pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the development and progression of COPD,
emphysema, and lung disease associated with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency;
genetic determinants of lung disease; treatment of COPD; and health effects of
air pollution.
Research on CF focuses on the
function of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator and its role in lung
disease. Areas of interest include airway epithelial ion transport, airway
surface liquids, animal and cellular models for CF, signaling pathways in
airway cells, regulation of mucin expression and secretion, development and
clinical testing of treatments, and mechanisms underlying the infectious and
inflammatory aspects of CF lung disease.
Lung Biology and Disease Branch
The Lung Biology and Disease Branch supports basic,
translational, and clinical research and research training programs in
pulmonary conditions associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS,
tuberculosis, acute lung injury and critical care medicine, lung development
and pediatric lung diseases, lung immunobiology and interstitial lung diseases,
lymphangioleiomyomatosis, and lung cell and vascular biology. In addition, it
supports the development of tuberculosis curricula for medical schools.
AIDS and tuberculosis research focuses on the
pathogenesis and course of pulmonary manifestations of HIV infection and
tuberculosis and host lung defenses against them and HIV-associated
opportunistic infections. Emphasis is on identifying and understanding the
pathogenesis of lung complications associated with HIV infection and
characterizing the lung microbiome in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected
individuals.
Research on acute lung injury and critical care
medicine explores the pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of acute lung
injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The Branch supports
development of new diagnostic tools for detection of acute lung injury and
development of an artificial lung and oversees clinical studies of therapies
for ARDS, including the ARDS Network.
Research in developmental biology and pediatric
pulmonary diseases investigates the regulation of lung development, growth, and
repair and focuses on pediatric pulmonary diseases in infants and children,
including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital and acquired upper airway
abnormalities, and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Research
also focuses on identifying and determining the cell fate of lung progenitor
stem cells, understanding lung regeneration, and exploring cell-based therapy
for lung injury and disease.
Research on immunology and fibrosis includes studies
of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, occupational and environmental
lung diseases, and the role of immune response and inflammation in these
diseases. The Branch also supports research on lung immunobiology, lung
transplantation, and pathogenesis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis.
Lung cell and vascular biology research investigates
lung cell biology and function and pulmonary vascular disease, including
pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary embolism diagnosis. Research
focuses on pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells, vascular endothelial cells, and
the lung surfactant system. The Branch also performs research on the regulation
of barrier function of pulmonary endothelial cells and regulation of lung
permeability.
National Center on Sleep Disorders Research
The National Center on Sleep
Disorders Research (NCSDR) supports research, health education, and research
training related to sleep-disordered breathing and the fundamental function of
sleep and circadian rhythms. Specific areas of interest include neurobiology
of ventilatory control, respiratory rhythmogenesis, chemosensitivity, basic
neurobiology of sleep–wake regulation, circadian-coupled cellular function, and
effects of sleep deprivation. The NCSDR also stewards several forums,
including the Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board and the Trans-NIH Sleep
Research Coordinating Committee, which facilitate the coordination of sleep
research across the NIH and with other Federal Agencies and outside
organizations. The Center participates in translation of new sleep research
findings for dissemination to health care professionals and the public.
Division of Blood Diseases and
Resources
The DBDR supports research and
research training on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of
nonmalignant blood diseases, including anemias, SCD, and thalassemia;
premalignant processes, such as myelodysplasia and myeloproliferative
disorders; hemophilia and other abnormalities of hemostasis and thrombosis; and
immune dysfunction. It supports specialized centers that focus on research in
basic and translational research in SCD.
The Division also supports
research in transfusion medicine and blood banking, stem cell biology and
disease, hematopoiesis, clinical cellular medicine, and blood supply adequacy
and safety. It provides biospecimens and cellular resources to the scientific
community.
The Division is organized into
the three Branches described below.
Blood Diseases Branch
The Blood Diseases Branch
supports research and research training in blood diseases, including SCD,
thalassemia, Fanconi anemia, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, and other aplastic
anemias and malaria. Additionally, it supports outcomes-related research.
Research in SCD and thalassemia focuses on elucidating the etiology and
pathophysiology of the diseases and improving disease treatment and
management. Areas of emphasis include genetics, regulation of hemoglobin
synthesis, iron chelation, development of drugs to increase fetal hemoglobin
production, hematopoietic transplantation, and gene therapy. Basic and
translational red cell research are also areas of interest.
Thrombosis and Hemostasis Branch
The Thrombosis and Hemostasis
Branch supports research and research training in hemostasis, thrombosis, and
endothelial cell biology, including basic research, clinical studies, and
technology development. Areas of interest include hemophilia; von Willebrand
disease; and such immune disorders as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura,
thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Research on bleeding disorders focuses on identifying effective treatments.
Emerging areas of interest are gene transfer; clinical proteomics; glycomics;
inflammation related to vascular injury from trauma and sepsis; thrombosis;
stroke; coagulation activation; autoimmune disease; and thrombotic
complications of obesity, diabetes, and cancer.
The Branch also supports
research on the pathogenesis of arterial and venous thrombosis to improve the
diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of thrombosis in heart attack, stroke, and
peripheral vascular diseases. A major goal is to find additional platelet
inhibitors, anticoagulants, and fibrinolytic agents to treat thrombotic and
thromboembolic disorders with better specificity and fewer side effects than
those currently used for treatment.
Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapeutics
Branch
The Transfusion Medicine and
Cellular Therapeutics Branch supports research and research training in
transfusion medicine, stem cell biology and disease, hematopoiesis, clinical
cellular medicine, and blood supply adequacy and safety. Research focuses on
the use, safety, and availability of blood and blood components for transfusion
and cellular therapies. Research areas include transmission of disease,
noninfectious complications of transfusions, immunobiology, cell biology and
disease, novel cell-based therapies, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation,
and overall product availability. The Branch develops programs for basic and
clinical research related to normal and abnormal cellular biology and
pathology. It also collaborates with governmental, private sector, and
international organizations to improve the safety and availability of the
global supply of blood and blood components. The Branch also supports major
NHLBI resource programs that provide cellular therapeutic products and
biospecimens to the NHLBI scientific community.
Division of Intramural
Research
The DIR conducts laboratory and
clinical research in heart, vascular, lung, blood, and kidney diseases and
develops technology related to cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Areas of
interest include the biologic basis of arteriosclerosis and its manifestations;
pathophysiology of hypertensive vascular disease; functions of the lung;
clinical and experimental studies on physiologic and pharmacologic aspects of
heart, lung, and blood diseases; and a broad program of other basic research
and technical developments related to them.
The DIR is organized into the
four Centers and three Branches described below.
Biochemistry and Biophysics Center
The Biochemistry and Biophysics
Center develops a global view of the molecular basis of structure–function
relationships of proteins and biologically relevant molecules. It performs
state-of-the-art nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies of protein
structure and functional interactions, develops mathematical tools for
generating theoretical models of protein structure–function relationships,
elucidates the mechanisms of enzyme function, and investigates the relationship
between protein structure–function and cell signaling pathways.
Cell Biology and Physiology Center
The Cell Biology and Physiology
Center develops a global view of the mechanisms that regulate cellular function
and physiology. It evaluates the mechanisms that control different molecular
machines within the cytosol, including those involved in muscle contraction and
cytosolic and membrane transport processes. The Center studies cellular
signaling events associated with hormone action, cytosolic trafficking, and
energy metabolism; investigates the role of cellular processes on function and
adaptation in whole-animal model systems; and develops unique measuring devices
for studying biochemical and physiological processes in intact cells, whole
animals, and clinical situations.
Genetics and Development Biology Center
The Genetics and Development
Biology Center develops a global view of the mechanisms that regulate
cardiovascular development and the etiology of congenital heart anomalies and
CVD. It evaluates the function of specific genes and transcription factors in
the development of the heart and other tissues, develops techniques and
approaches for gene delivery and gene therapy in model systems, and works
toward a better understanding of basic processes involved in regulating and
interpreting the genetic code in development and disease.
Immunology Center
The Immunology Center develops a
global view of the molecular basis of immune processes. It studies
intracellular and signaling processes involved in activation of lymphocytes and
mast cells, investigates mechanisms by which drugs and other agents result in
allergic-autoimmune reactions, and relates the results to the development of
new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in humans.
Translational Medicine Branch
The Translational Medicine
Branch conducts biomedical research directed at defining normal and abnormal
biologic function at the molecular level. It develops diagnostic and
therapeutic modalities for the treatment and understanding of CVD and
implements mechanism-based clinical studies centered on innovative discoveries
and observations from inside and outside the Branch.
Hematology Branch
The Hematology Branch conducts
basic and clinical research on normal and abnormal hematopoiesis. Areas of
interest include bone marrow failure, viral infections of hematopoietic cells,
gene therapy of hematologic and malignant diseases, bone marrow transplantation,
and mechanisms of immunologically mediated syndromes, such as graft-versus-host
disease and autoimmune diseases.
Pulmonary and Vascular Medicine Branch
The Pulmonary and Vascular
Medicine Branch conducts research on the lung, heart, and systemic vasculature
directed at defining normal physiological function and novel mechanisms of
disease at the molecular, biochemical, and functional levels. It conducts
research on emerging diseases of the lung characterized by unknown etiology and
molecular pathogenesis. Areas of interest include lung diseases in blacks,
such as SCD and sarcoidosis; the role of nitric oxide, nitrite, gender,
preconditioning, and mitochondrial function on the modulation of ischemia and
reperfusion injury of the heart and lung; and translational study and drug
development for therapeutic modulation of vascular, pulmonary, and cardiac
cellular and molecular dysfunction in diseases of the lung and heart.
Division for the Application of
Research Discoveries
The
DARD supports efforts to advance the application of scientific discoveries for
preventing, detecting, and treating cardiovascular, lung, blood, and sleep
diseases and conditions to improve the health of all Americans. It focuses on
translating scientific evidence into clinical guidelines for physicians to
implement in their practice and into community health promotion or education
programs for communities to disseminate to the public. The Division uses
several channels of communications, including communities of practice, knowledge
networks, social media, Web sites, conferences, and symposia. DARD programs
reach out to people in high-risk, low-income communities to improve health and
reduce health disparities. DARD activities promote communication and
collaboration among researchers, clinical and public health practitioners,
patients, and the general public. They also focus on identifying gaps in
knowledge that can be addressed by future research.
The
Division is organized into the two Branches described below.
Research Translation Branch
The
Research Translation Branch interprets research findings into effective
approaches for practice. The Branch synthesizes and organizes evidence around
priority diseases or conditions and leads the effort to develop both
evidence-based systematic literature reviews and guidelines for clinical
practice. The Branch also develops clinical decision support systems and other
innovative applications for use in clinical and public health practice
settings, and it facilitates knowledge exchange opportunities for researchers
and practitioners around issues of research applicability and relevance to
practice. Branch activities also identify knowledge gaps to inform future
research.
Enhanced Dissemination and Utilization Branch
The Enhanced Dissemination and
Utilization Branch collects, synthesizes, and communicates evidence-based
findings on the determinants of population health to maintain and improve the
health of diverse populations and reduce health disparities in underserved
groups. The Branch translates research into effective community health
promotion programs, establishes effective partnerships to improve health and
reduce health disparities, and builds communication among organizations and
communities to ensure their personal involvement in improving community
health. Results are achieved by providing technical assistance and information
resources to diverse audiences, including high-risk and underserved groups in a
variety of community practice settings. The Branch identifies appropriate
health outcomes for assessing successful implementation and conducts evaluation
activities to ensure continuous improvement and inform program planning.
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