Search Tufts Medicine

With the explosion in novel cancer therapies, cancer outcomes have improved dramatically resulting in a growing population of cancer survivors. Simultaneously, there has been a rise in cardiovascular side effects of these cancer therapies that is limiting quality of life and life expectancy of cancer survivors.

The mission of the Cardiac Biology Research Center (CBRC) is to advance our understanding of fundamental mechanisms that regulate cardiac structure and function across multiple disease conditions, including heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary and systemic hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, autonomic dysfunction and arrhythmias. With advanced expertise in molecular cardiology, integrative physiology, molecular imaging, nanotechnology, biomedical engineering, and translational research, the CBRC studies novel signaling mechanisms that govern cardiomyocyte and non-myocyte cell populations.

The Center for Translational Pharmacology and Genomics focuses on leveraging molecular pharmacology, biology and genetic approaches toward the development of novel therapeutics.

The Vascular Biology Research Center (VBRC) investigators work to understand the molecular underpinnings of healthy blood vessel function and how dysfunction develops, which can lead to cardiovascular diseases including high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

The Molecular Cardiology Research Institute (MCRI) explores the fundamental basis of human diseases through the systematic collection and analysis of blood and tissue samples from patients treated at Tufts Medical Center. To investigate these molecular and cellular mechanisms as they relate to human biology, the MCRI Bio Bank Core Lab obtains written consent from patients.

The MCRI Cell Culture Core Laboratory is responsible for maintaining and growing the large biobank of human, murine, and other cell lines utilized to make scientific discoveries about how the cardiovascular system works at the cellular level. Functions of the Cell Culture Core Laboratory include isolation, maintenance and cryopreservation of cells, media preparation, training of investigators in aseptic and cell culture techniques, and consultation on novel cell culture methods. Cell proliferation assays, immortalization of cells, expansion of cell lines, establishment of transient and stable cloned cell lines, and preparation of cells for experiments are also provided. The core has the ability to establish new primary cell lines from a variety of tissues, especially vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) and endothelial cells (EC) from humans, mice and other species.

The MCRI Interventional Research Core Laboratory supports pre-clinical translational research, providing scientific expertise in the coordination and execution of biomedical animal research studies to aid in the design, development and testing of cardiovascular medical devices and other therapies.

The MCRI Mouse Physiology Core Laboratory is dedicated to the application of whole-animal models to pursue questions related to the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. The MCRI has established a series of cardiovascular models in rodents that are in active use in both the MCRI and in laboratories around the U.S. and the world. Models developed at the MCRI include a mouse model of carotid injury; chronic myocardial infarction, transverse aortic constriction and others. Phenotyping methods developed at the MCRI Mouse Core include a closed chest electrophysiology catheter-based procedure and dual ventricular pressure volume loop recording among others. The Mouse Core also routinely performs standard disease models and phenotyping assays relevant to cardiac and vascular physiology, including models of ventricular pressure overload, left and right ventricular pressure-volume loop analysis, cardiac echocardiography, telemetry implantation for blood pressure and ECG monitoring and many others.

The mission of the MCRI Vascular Function Core Laboratory at Tufts Medical Center is to uncover novel vascular physiological mechanisms that contribute to cardiovascular disease onset and progression in a variety of healthy and disease states. Our approach is translational in that our techniques allow vascular function assessment from rodent models up to clinical human studies.

Tufts Medicine is made up of Care at Home, Lowell General Hospital, MelroseWakefield Hospital, Tufts Medical Center and hundreds of doctor offices. We're a network of healthcare providers working together to deliver exceptional care with a personal touch.

Referring a patient has never been easier. Simply fill out our refer a patient form and one of our referral coordinators will immediately follow up with you.

We are committed to offering our physician community the most up-to-date resources, tools and education. Please see below for upcoming webinars as well as the most recent presentations on Coding, Telehealth and COVID-19.

Tufts Medicine is on a journey to re-imagine healthcare, and it starts by looking at ourselves. We are on a mission to build an inclusive culture where all people can thrive by advancing diversity, cultural competence and eliminating structural racism to achieve health equity.

Walk in or save time by reserving a spot online at one of our urgent care centers.

Making an appointment at MelroseWakefield is easy! We can help coordinate your visit so you can get the care you need.

From rashes to stitches to fractured bones, it’s good to know our urgent care providers deliver exactly what you need.

Our mission, vision and values are our guiding light. Together, we bring them to life with our care, our actions, our learning and our commitment to excellence.