FACILITIES

Our laboratory is a collaboration between the academic division of cardiothoracic surgery in the Joseph P. Whitehead Department of Surgery in the Emory medical school, the clinical CT surgery service at Emory University Hospital Midtown, and the academic biomedical engineering department at Georgia Tech. We are located in a facility with 8000 sq ft of dedicated bench space, cell culture and molecular biology labs, and a pre-clinical facility . The laboratory is within a short distance from the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and the clinical division of cardiothoracic surgery at Emory Hospital Midtown.  
Biomechanics Lab: Facilities in this laboratory are equipped to study the biomechanics of cardiovascular system in vitro and in vivo. Key instruments include:
  • CellScale Biaxial Mechanical Tester
  • Perfusion decellularization of whole organs
  • Vascular and valvular tissue reactivity setup
  • Heart valve tester
  • Whole heart tester
  • 16-channel sonomicrometry system
  • Basler high speed cameras (x2)
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​Prototyping Lab: Facilities are setup to create prototypes of new devices, tools and materials for use in cardiovascular research and translation. Key facilities include:
  • 3D SLA printer
  • Bench top drill 
  • Galomb injection molder
  • Electrospinning setup with static and rotating drum mandrels


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Cell and Molecular Biology/ Histopathology Lab: This lab is equipped with a wide range of facilities for cell and molecular biology, and some basic histopathology. 
  • Laminar flow hoods (x 2)
  • Olympus inverted fluorescence microscope with QImaging camera and software
  • CO2 injected incubators (x 2)
  • Multiple refrigerators and -80C freezers
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Preclinical Lab: Facilities for small and large pre-clinical studies are setup for translational research projects, including a large vivarium for on site care for long term studies. A cardiovascular ICU is also setup to ensure best outcomes. Equipment includes:
  • Rodent physiology core for survival surgeries
  • On-site micro CT & Visualsonics Ultrasound
  • Surgical suite with cardiopulmonary bypass capabilities
  • Cardiac catheterization lab with 3D ultrasound, ICE and IVUS 
  • Off-site MRI imaging at the Center for Systems Imaging
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