Center for Cardiovascular Research

The mission of the Center for Cardiovascular Research is to conduct innovative, mechanism-based research leading to improved therapies and outcomes for pediatric cardiovascular diseases and to foster preventive strategies and promote cardiovascular health in adults.

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The Research Institute is ranked among the top 10 for NIH funding among free-standing children's hospitals.

Meet Our Team Clinical Research
Areas of Focus
Grant Info
Training Links

NIH Award Brings Together Pediatric and Adult Heart Disease Research and Training

The National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recently awarded a five-year renewal of a $1.6 million training grant at Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University (OSU) to Vidu Garg, MD, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Research at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's, and Peter Mohler, PhD , director of the Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute at OSU.

The overall goal of this grant is to provide in-depth, interdisciplinary, translational and state-of-the-art research training to clinicians and basic scientists in congenital and acquired heart disease. Investigators at the Center for Cardiovascular Research focus on the continuum of congenital to acquired heart disease, from fetal life to senescence, and compare disease mechanisms and outcomes between these diverse populations.

Training Links

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Patient-Centered Pediatric Research Program

The Patient-Centered Pediatric Research Program prepares postdoctoral fellows to engage in independent outcomes research in child health settings and become leaders in the conduct of patient- and family-centered outcomes research.

Research Medical Fellows

Research Pathway

The Integrated Research Pathway is an American Board of Pediatrics  approved mechanism for pediatric residency training. Learn more about this program and the application process. 

Research Institute Training Association (RITA)

Trainee Association

The Research Institute’s Trainee Association (RITA) was created in 2013 to help better train and prepare trainees for their “next steps.”

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Training Opportunities

Research education and training are vital to the mission of Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

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Training in Congenital and Acquired Heart Disease

A five-year, $1.6 million training grant was recently renewed to provide in-depth, interdisciplinary, translational and state-of-the-art research training in congenital and acquired heart disease to clinicians and basic scientists.

Med Pros

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) in Cardiovascular Research

SURF provides undergraduates with the opportunity to perform clinical and basic science research within The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital over the summer.

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Research and Academic Events

Learn more about research and academic events going on at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Cardiovascular Level 2

Meet Our Team

Learn more about director Vidu Garg, MD, and his team of principal investigators at the Center for Cardiovascular Research.

Cismowski Lab

Under the direction of Mary Cismowski, PhD, the Molecular Analysis Core is available to facilitate both basic and translational research for basic science and clinical faculty.

Garg Lab

Under the direction of Vidu Garg, MD, The Garg Lab focuses on identifying the genetic contributors to congenital heart defects.

Lilly Lab

Under the direction of Brenda Lilly, PhD, the Lilly Lab is interested in the fundamentals of blood vessel formation and smooth muscle differentiation.

Lincoln Lab

Under the direction of Joy Lincoln, PhD, the Lincoln Lab is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate normal heart formation in the embryo.

McConnell Lab

Under the direction of Patrick McConnell, MD, the McConnell’s Lab focuses on studying biological models of heart function, pathophysiology and cardiac assisting devices.

Trask Lab

Under the direction of Aaron Trask, PhD, the Trask Lab's research focuses on studying processes involved in adverse micro- and macro-vascular remodeling in disease.

Related Specialties

Smiling young heart patient

The Heart Center