Since January of 1990, the Cardiovascular Pathology Lab of THI has been leading the way in supporting pathology research at many public and private medical institutions and corporations across the nation. The Lab is FDA GLP (Good Laboratory Practices)-compliant because of the preclinical studies it conducts, which is essential for FDA submissions. In addition, the Lab is CLIA clear compliant, adhering to guidelines necessary for providing clinical services at THI.

Services Offered

• Basic histopathology (the study of diseases of tissues and cells) – a core component of any pathology lab
• Necropsy support in the preclinical lab, with a board-certified MD pathologist and a board-certified veterinary pathologist to assist
• Two types of microscopes – a scanning electron microscope and a transmission electron microscope – both providing critical data in different formats. The scanning scope looks at the surface of a sample and can also provide chemical characterizations. In contrast, the transmission scope looks deeper into the sample and reveals cellular detail; this scope is used frequently to examine biopsy tissue, which enhances the work of the histology lab which enhances the histopathology evaluations.

Stories of Collaboration

The Cardiovascular Pathology Lab is crucial to the research of many different entities, and THI is very proud to be able to offer this type of core lab to further heart research and treatment capabilities.

• Gene therapy research for Danon disease – Clinical trial project with Rocket Pharmaceuticals to find treatments for this rare pediatric cardiomyopathy, which causes death at a young age
• Studying immune checkpoint inhibitor myocarditis in partnership with McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Supporting the development of the BIVACOR Total Artificial Heart at THI
• Longstanding collaboration with UT San Antonio and UT Austin in an effort to characterize coronary plaque and develop better methods of detecting it
• Catheter-based study in collaboration with UC Davis to systematically explore whether plaque autofluorescence properties assessed with intravascular fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) can provide qualitative and quantitative information about intimal composition and improve the characterization of atherosclerosis lesions
• THI project utliizing a method of limited cardiac sampling that allows a thorough examination histologic examination of cardiac areas treated with biological agents by transendocardial injection
• Research project with investigators studying methods for percutaneous lung tissue resection.
• Collaboration between the Department of Radiology at TCH, Department of Surgery at BCM and THI investigating the use of nanoparticles contrast-enhanced computed tomography (n-CECT) for the early detection of aortic dissection and aneurysm