Consultation Services
The CVPath Institute facility was designed to provide expert translational bench-to-bedside research services utilizing state-of-the-art technology. These services are performed for clients all around the globe and from start-ups to Fortune 100 manufacturers.
Comprehensive histology services from basic to advanced.
CAP-accredited and CLIA-approved laboratory to meet your diagnostic needs.
An internationally recognized research team offers study design consultation
A broad range of medical device experience to enhance your research needs
A full array of diagnostic services for autopsy and surgical specimens
Offering comprehensive microscopy technologies including SEM, TEM, OCT and Micro-CT.
Imaging
The CVPath Insitute offers an established resource for ex-vivo and in-vivo intravascular imaging tools including intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography, angioscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy, etc. and helps develop new or improve existing modalities by offering a wide range of coregistration services between histology and invasive/non-invasive imaging modalities.
Optical Coherence Tomography Analysis – We offer our clients expert guidance on intravascular image acquisition using OCT and OFDI technology and provide state-of-the-art imaging analysis including comprehensive OCT core laboratory analysis.
Micro-CT – nondestructive micron-level 3D imaging for clinical samples, tissue, and devices
Our custom-built Nikon XT H 225ST Microfocus Computed Tomography scanner, paired with the powerful rendering suite VGStudio MAX 3.0 and expert imaging staff, allows us to examine clinical samples, tissue, and devices with never before seen precision and clarity for nondestructive imaging.
With the ability to scan objects from under 1 cubic millimeter to over 50 centimeters, the Micro-CT stands alone as the best method for imaging delicate samples without destroying them. Voxel-based measurement and analysis through VGStudio mean that not only can we produce visually stunning images, but we can make measurements in any plane of any device and perform volumetric measurements on calcification. Images can be produced in a variety of formats, including but not limited to: 3D virtual dissection movies, 3D STL files, 2D virtual histology, 2D image slice movies, and DICOM sets. The Micro-CT also serves as a powerful addition to any study involving analysis of histologic sections by providing technicians with the exact locations of regions of interest so that only the best data is put forth in the slides we produce.
Our Experts
The Institute’s research team consists of world class cardiologists, pathologists, scientists, and other highly skilled technical staff who have a deep understanding of cardiovascular pathology.
Medical Director and Chief Scientific Officer
President
Associate Director
Chief of Anatomic Pathology
Chief Research Scientist
Aloke Finn, MD
| Titles: | Clinical Expertise: |
| Medical Director and Chief Scientific Officer – CVPath Institute | Interventional Cardiology |
| Education: | Residencies: |
| MD, Vanderbilt University | Internal Medicine |
| School of Medicine | Massachusetts General Hospital |
| Fellowships: | Board Certifications: |
| Internal Medicine | Cardiovascular Disease & Cardiovascular Disease |
| Interventional Cardiology | Cardiovascular Disease |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Interventional Cardiology |
Other Affiliations:
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine
University of Maryland at Baltimore
I am a physician-scientist whose focus is on the pathology of cardiovascular disease and its treatment. I serve as the Medical Director and Chief Scientific Officer for CVPath Institute where I am involved in overseeing device development research and run a molecular lab with focus on the molecular understanding of vascular wall injury and healing, genetics of sudden cardiac death and molecular basis of coronary artery disease. When not running CVPath, I perform interventional cardiology procedures at University of Maryland weekly.
Awards and Honors:
DeSanctis Clinical Scholar, Harvard Medical School, 2003-2004; Thomas Linnemeier Young Investigator Award Finalist, Columbia University/ Cardiovascular Research Foundation, 2006; Outstanding Scientific Citation (Basic Research-Early Career), Emory Department of Medicine, 2010; Finalist Irvine H. Page Award, American Heart; Member Emory Millipub Club (paper authorship with >1000 citations), 2013; Basic Science Publication of the Year University of Maryland Department of Medicine, 2018
Link to publications
Renu Virmani, MD FACC
| Titles: | Education: |
| President and Founder | M.D. Lady Hardinge Medical College |
| Delhi University | |
| Clinical Expertise: | India |
| Cardiovascular Pathology Research | |
| Residencies: | Fellowships: |
| Gynecology, Obstetrics and Internal Medicine | Pathology |
| Maulana Azad Medical College | National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute |
| New Delhi, India | National Institutes of Health |
| Bethesda, MD | |
| Pathology | |
| Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial College and Hospital | |
| Meerut, India | Board Certifications: |
| Cardiovascular Pathology | |
| Pathology (Clinical and Anatomical) | |
| George Washington | Other Affirmations: |
| University Medical Center | Clinical Professor – Pathology: |
| Washington, D.C. | Georgetown University |
| University of Maryland, Baltimore | |
| George Washington University | |
| Vanderbilt University | |
Dr. Virmani is an internationally renowned cardiovascular pathologist. She is recognized as a leading researcher in the field of cardiovascular disease treatments.
Dr. Virmani serves as the President of CVPath Institute, which she founded in 2005. Dr. Virmani lectures at scientific meetings, both nationally and internationally, and has delivered more than 800 presentations globally. She is responsible for multiple research grants in the field of cardiovascular pathology and has authored or co-authored over 600 publications in peer-reviewed journals in the field of atherosclerosis, vulnerable plaque, stents, and other cardiovascular diseases. She has edited 7 books and written over 100 book chapters. Dr. Virmani is also reviews manuscripts for many scientific journals.
Dr. Virmani was presented with the 2012 TCT Career Achievement Award by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. She has been recognized by the Council on Clinical Cardiology of the American Heart Association and also delivered the Laennec Clinician Educator Lecture in 2010. She was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Antwerp, Belgium in 2008 and has also received honorary awards from European Society of Cardiology (2008) and EuroPCR (2006).
Dr. Virmani served as Chairperson at the Department of Cardiovascular Pathology of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology from 1984 until 2004. Dr. Virmani is a member of the American Heart Association, the U.S. and Canadian Academy of Pathology, and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology
Awards and Honors:
Joint Service Commendation Medal for Outstanding Meritorious Service as Chief, Division of Cardiovascular Research, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C. for the period of 5 July 1979 through 4 August 1981
Gold Medal for Best Scientific Exhibit at the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 1981
Silver Medal for Second Best Scientific Exhibit at the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 1985
Edward Rhodes Stitt Lecture Award, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, San Antonio, Texas, November 1988
Member Cardiology Advisory Committee, national Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, October 1988 to March 1992
Member AIDS Advisory Committee, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, October 1989 to Sept 1993.
Member judging panel for the 1996 Young Investigators Awards Competition in the Physiology, Pharmacology & Pathology Category. 45th Annual Scientific Session of the College of Cardiology, Orlando, Florida.
2006 – Ethica Award, EuroPCR, Paris, France, May 2006.
2007 – Society for Cardiovascular Pathology Distinguished Achievement Award, March 25, 2007.
2008 – Doctor Honoris Causa, Universiteit Antwerpen, Hoogleraar Cardiovaculaire Pathologie aan de George Washington Universiteit, Washington, DC, Antwerpen, Belgium, May 6, 2008.
2010 – Laennec Clinician/Educator Lecture Award from the American Heart Association, November 15, 2010.
2011 – BAS Hugh Sinclair Lecture, British Atherosclerosis Society
Manchester, England, June 13, 2011.
2012 – Simon Dack Award from JACC Journals. March 25, 2012
2012 – RT Hall Lecture Award from International Faculty for CSANZ 2012 Brisbane. August 17, 2012.
2012 – TCT Career Achievement Award from the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. October 25, 2012.
2013 – ICI 2013 Award (Innovations in Cardiovascular Interventions Award), Tel Aviv, Israel, December 2013.
2014 – Houston Methodist Leading Medicine Award from Houston Methodist Research Institute, October 9-10, 2014.
2014 – Beacon of Interventional Cardiology Award from India Live 2015, Chennai, India, February 26-27, 2015
2015 – TCT Career Achievement Award, CADECI 2015, Guadalajara, Jalisco (Mexico), February 11-12, 2015.
Link to publicationsFrank D. Kolodgie, PhD
| Title: | Clinical Expertise: |
| Associate Director | Pathology of Human Vascular |
| Disease Research | |
| Education: | |
| PhD, Clinical Medicine | Other Affiliations: |
| University of Maryland | Adjunct Faculty, University of Maryland |
| Baltimore, MD | School of Medicine |
| MS, Clinical Medicine | Member, American Heart Association |
| University of Maryland | |
| Baltimore, MD | Research Committee, |
| American Registry of Pathology | |
| BA, Biology | |
| Wayne State University | |
| Detroit, MI. |
Dr. Kolodgie’s primary research interest is in arteriosclerosis/heart failure. Since its founding in 2005, Dr. Kolodgie has served as the Associate Director of CVPath Institute. Dr. Kolodgie’s over thirty-year span of research has focused on the pathology of human vascular disease, including the role of inflammation, apoptosis, and neoangiogenesis in the progression of atherosclerosis in addition to translational research in the interventional device field. Dr. Kolodgie has been the recipient of over 10 research grants and has authored and co-authored over 160 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and more than 30 book chapters.
Awards and Honors:
Young Investigator, American College of Cardiology, Annual Scientific Session, 1995
Link to publications
Maria E. Romero, MD FCAP
| Clinical Expertise: | Fellowships: |
| Anatomic Pathology | Cytopathology |
| Cardiovascular Pathology | Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital |
| Cytopathology | Richmond, VA |
| Education: | Ultra-structural Pathology |
| MD, San Marcos University | National Cancer Institute (NCI) |
| School of Medicine | Bethesda, MD |
| Lima, Peru | |
| Residency: | Board Certifications: |
| Anatomic Pathology | Anatomic Pathology |
| Georgetown University Hospital | Cytopathology |
| Washington, DC | |
Dr. Romero joined CVPath as a Staff Pathologist in 2014. Dr. Romero is board certified in Anatomic Pathology and Cytopathology. She received her medical degree from San Marcos University School of Medicine in Lima, Peru. Dr. Romero completed her residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington DC followed by a cytopathology fellowship at the Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital in Richmond, VA. She completed a post-doctoral fellow at the Ultra-structural Pathology section at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD. Dr. Romero’s clinical and research interests are focused on the diagnosis and mechanisms of atherosclerosis, preclinical safety, and the effectiveness of neuroprotection devices and valvular pathology. She is a member of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP), College of American Pathologist (CAP) and the Society of Cardiovascular Pathology (SCVP).
Awards and Honors:
Fellow’s Award for Research Excellence (FARE), National Cancer Institute
Link to PublicationsLiang "Charles" Guo, PhD
| Title: | Research Expertise: |
| Chief Research Scientist | Molecular Biology |
| Genetics of Cardiovascular Disease | |
| Education: | Fellowship: |
| PhD, University of Florida | Cardiovascular Biology |
| New York University | |
| School of Medicine | |
| Division of Cardiology | |
Dr. Liang Guo is currently the Chief Research Scientist at CVPath Institute and Junior Investigator of PlaqOmics Research Network. He received Doctoral degree from University of Florida in 2009 and completed postdoctoral fellowship in the Division of Cardiology at New York University School of Medicine. He joined CVPath Institute in 2014 and has been directing Molecular and Genomic Research Laboratory. His research areas are focusing on atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, macrophage inflammation and angiogenesis, genetics of sudden cardiac death, endothelial dysfunctions, and lipoprotein metabolism. He has published over 50 scientific journal papers and book chapter
Link to publicationsOur Research Capabilities and Facilities
A state of the art lab purposely designed for cardiovascular studies.
Ability to perform advanced molecular assays and experiments
A state of the art research laboratory located along the I-270 Technology Corridor
One of the largest tissue biobanks of its kind
Rapidly expanding genomic research capabilities
Extensive registry of cardiovascular specimens and correlating diseases
Heart Lab
CVPath Institute recently established a Heart Lab, designated to perform various imaging and evaluations of experimental devices on heart specimens.
Cardiology fellows, pathologist and medical device professionals are utilizing these advanced tools to make imaging diagnosis and evaluations on the various heart and vascular conditions and treatment devices.
The 600 square foot laboratory has been furnished with a state-of-art Nikon XT H 225 Micro-CT and Cios Alpha high‐definition mobile C‐arm systems, as well as VISICUBE intravascular ultrasound system, C7XR, and Lunawave OCT imaging systems.
Tissue Biobank
CVPath Institute has one of the largest tissue biobanks of its kind, a large repository of heart biospecimens collected from human autopsies of patients who died of sudden death since the 1990s. Our organization has collected over 7,000 autopsy hearts from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the State of Maryland and other contributors. For every case, hearts have been systematically evaluated with detailed histopathological analysis at CVPath Institute. This includes obtaining a minimum of 5 sections of myocardium per heart, including the anterior, lateral, posterior, septum, and right ventricle, together with complete coronary artery beds. In a number of cases, this also includes detailed studies including the conduction system examination. We have also stored frozen blood, serum, kidney and liver samples in our freezers. We then collect the diagnosis rendered by the medical examiner, including drug toxicology studies that are routinely conducted for individuals 18 to 50 years of age. We have genotyped over 2,000 samples and have performed next-gen sequencing on 600-samples using cardiovascular gene panels.
The samples in this biobank and the data derived from the specimens are routinely used by our researchers and collaborators and have been a valuable resource in many studies.
Genomic Research
CVPath Research Laboratory is developing its capabilities in genomic research. Isolated DNA and RNA samples from CVPath Registry Studies are being used in genotyping, whole exome sequencing, targeted sequencing of cardiovascular gene panels, bulk RNA-seq and single cell RNA-seq studies. Over 2,000 human DNA samples have been genotyped in SCD Registry study. The Research Laboratory is experienced in common laboratory preparations for next-gen sequencing used in these research studies. We have dedicated bioinformatics server to process and analyze the genomic data using various tools and pipelines. In the meantime, we also collaborate with American Heart Association Institute for Precision Cardiovascular Medicine using cloud computing platform. Precision Medicine Platform is a cloud-based data science platform we are using to integrate genomic and pathologic data. This will also allow comparative analyses with other large cohort datasets that are stored on the platform. This platform provides a secure workspace equipped with artificial intelligence tools, machine learning and cloud computing, as well as global collaboration capabilities. It is HIPAA compliant and has also been certified through the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) for cloud computing security.
30 Years of Discoveries and Milestones
Pioneering discoveries in the cardiovascular field from the researchers of CVPath Institute.
Discoveries in the 1990’s
Discoveries in the 2000’s
Our most recent discoveries
1990's-2000
1990’s – Intravascular Brachytherapy – Virmani predicts that intravascular brachytherapy for the treatment of coronary disease “will not work”.
1995 – Defined Plaque Erosion – Farb, Virmani, and colleagues describe a second significant cause of acute coronary thrombosis.
1997 – Identify Entity of Thin-cap Fibroatheroma (TCFA) – Burke, Virmani and colleagues develop a working definition of lesion vulnerability based on fibrous cap thickness and address predisposing risk factors to high-risk plaque.
2000 – Natural History of Atherosclerosis – Virmani, and colleagues introduce a modification to the American Heart Association Consensus Classification based on their experience with lesion morphology in sudden coronary death.
2001 – Further Define Thin-cap Fibroatheroma (TCFA) – Kolodgie, Virmani, and colleagues further explain the pathologic entity of the thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) in relation to morphology, incidence and location.
2000's - 2015
2003 – Significance of Intraplaque Hemorrhage – Kolodgie, Virmani, and colleagues identify erythrocyte-derived cholesterol resulting from intraplaque neoangiogenesis and hemorrhage as a mechanism of necrotic core expansion and lesion vulnerability.
2004 – Late In-stent Thrombosis – Virmani and colleagues first describe the pathology of late-stent thrombosis attributed to drug-eluting stents.
2004 – Hypersensitivity and Late Stent Thrombosis – A severe localized hypersensitivity reaction consisting of predominantly T lymphocytes and eosinophils may have caused late stent thrombosis.
2010 – Neoatherosclerosis in Stents – Virmani, and colleagues are first to describe the pathology of neoatherosclerosis in drug-eluting and bare-metal stents.
2012 – Endothelium in Atherothrombosis and coronary stenting – Virmani and colleagues discovered that maintenance of a competently functioning endothelium is critical for long-term vascular health.
2013 – 2nd Generation Drug-eluting Stent – CVPath researchers discovered CoCr-EES demonstrated great strut coverage with less inflammation, less fibrin deposition, and less late and very late stent thrombosis.
2015 – Renal Sympathetic Denervation for Hypertension – the CVPath research team discovered that transcatheter ablation of renal autonomic nerves is a viable option for the treatment of resistant arterial hypertension.
2016 -
2016 – Thrombogenicity in Biodegradable Polymer Stents – Contemporary Drug-Eluting Stents with Biodegradable Polymer Coatings Assessed ExVivo in a swine shunt model.
2017 – Pathology of Transcatheter Aortic Valves – First systemic macroscopic pathologic analysis of self-expanding transcatheter aortic valves.
2018 – CD163 Macrophages in Atherosclerosis – Alternative macrophages promote plaque angiogenesis, leakiness, inflammation, and progression.
2019 – Histopathologic characteristics of PAD – We demonstrated detailed histopathologic characteristics of peripheral arteries in patents with abundant risk factors.
Educational Services
CVPath Institute offers educational opportunities to train tomorrow's scientific leaders through workshops, fellowships and internships. The institute provides expert training in advanced pathology techniques to promising researchers in various stages of their educational and vocational careers.
Our “Hands on Hearts” workshop is offered at various cardiovascular conferences throughout the year.
A highly competitive fellowship program in the field of cardiovascular research and pathology.
Undergraduate opportunities to learn in a research environment.
Hands on Hearts Workshop
Hands on Hearts is a 1 to 3-day anatomic heart disease session that is directed by CVPath Institute faculty and is held annually at the CRT and the TCT conferences. The session includes pathological specimens demonstrating human cardiac disease as well as CT-generated casts of human hearts prior to intervention. Participants get one-on-one hands-on teaching with actual cadaver hearts demonstrating a variety of structural and congenital disorders. Specimens include hearts with aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, atrial and ventricular septal defects, PFOs, as well as cardiomyopathies and ischemic heart disease. In addition, implanted cardiac devices such as bioprosthetic valves, PFO closure devices, and stents are also available for study. The sessions are an invaluable resource for education and research with practical applications for structural heart interventions.
Internships
As a leading medical research and educational organization dedicated to improving patient health management for those suffering from cardiac and vascular diseases, CVPath Institute is one of the largest and most comprehensive repositories of diseased human tissue available for investigative studies and teaching, and is pleased to be able to offer internships to students working towards their undergraduate degree in the field of medicine.
Interns accepted in the program are expected to assist full-time researchers taking a role in the development and implementation of research activities, which includes strengthening and expanding existing research projects, assisting with writing reports for sponsors, and presenting research at internal meetings as well as at conferences.
Interns are also exposed to a wide array of other research activities at CVPath Institute such correlation of Optical Coherence Tomography findings with histopathology, a topic of high clinical relevance in Interventional Cardiology. Meanwhile, all interns will receive basic training on Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Protected health information (PHI) under the US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Laboratory Safety and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) education, Animal Care and Use in Research, as well as Ethics and Research Integrity.
As an intern, you will participate and learn aspects of the principles, techniques, applications, and practices utilized in one or more of the following areas: molecular biology, cell culture, histology, morphometry, genetics and genomics at CVPath Institute. Work may include using microscopy, digital photography image analysis of cardiovascular research material in direct support of diagnosis, research, and publication.
Intern performance and learning progress is evaluated on an ongoing basis. A performance evaluation below expectations may result in early termination of the internship. Upon successful completion of the internship, you will receive a certificate of training from the CVPath Institute. A professional reference letter may be provided for future education endeavors
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