CardioPulmonary Vascular Biology COBRE - The vision of the CardioPulmonary Vascular Biology (CPVB) COBRE program is to develop effective approaches to prevent and treat vascular diseases affecting the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems through better understanding of disease mechanisms. This will be accomplished by serving as an interdisciplinary center which promotes collaborative research and provides excellent technical support and resources to investigators. The overall mission of the CPVB COBRE program has been to build the human and technical infrastructure and services that serve as catalysts to increase CPVB research in the state. Cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the US and in the world. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Respiratory diseases are the 3rd and 4th leading causes of death and are frequently complicated by pulmonary vasculopathy and cardiovascular co-morbidities that markedly worsen prognosis. We have learned that infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus damages multiple organs, with cardiovascular, respiratory, and vascular complications. Thus, there is an important need to understand the pathogenesis of cardiopulmonary vascular diseases in order to develop more effective treatments and prevention. The overall goal of the CPVB COBRE program is to facilitate high impact vascular biology research. The CPVB COBRE program provides infrastructure with administrative, pilot project, and two technical cores, thus providing opportunities to expand areas of investigation, experimental and technical approaches, and scientific collaborations. The specific aims of Phase III CPVB COBRE are to: i) award high-impact research projects in the area of cardiopulmonary vascular biology; ii) provide effective and high-quality services in cell isolation and ex vivo organ function (CIOF), mitochondrial function, and in vivo imaging (MF-II); iii) collaborate with IDeA programs in Rhode Island (RI) and other states to foster scientific networks by providing programming, funding, technical services, and resources to enhance research productivity; and iv) maintain a robust line of investigation in vascular biology that meets the needs of the scientific community and furthers research in prevention and treatment of cardiopulmonary vascular diseases. Continuation of the CPVB COBRE into Phase III will sustain the administrative structure for seminars and workshop planning, engagement, and professional development support of investigators, and expertise in cell isolation and ex vivo organ function, mitochondrial function, and in vivo imaging. We will expand and enrich the vascular biology research community by promoting new collaborations and engaging scientists new to the field from a variety of disciplines. At the end of Phase III, we expect to transition to a sustainable CPVB Center serving as a home to the CVPB research community with high quality core services, significant institutional support, and commitment to continue the development of effective approaches to combat or resolve cardiopulmonary vascular diseases.
