Department of Internal Medicine - Research

Iowa Cardiovascular Center

Introduction

A Cardiovascular Center was established in 1975 by the Dean of the College of Medicine under the direction of Dr. Francois Abboud. The purpose is to coordinate the cardiovascular programs of the College into a more cohesive unit to permit us to 1) utilize our cardiovascular resources optimally, 2) intensify, expand and integrate basic and clinical research programs in areas related to cardiovascular research, and 3) evaluate the role of new measures for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Space totaling 18,000 square feet was constructed for the Center and occupied in 1982. Funding for the construction amounted to approximately 2.3 million dollars. The space consists of a fifth and sixth floor addition to the Medical Research Center Building which is the closest to the geographic center of the University Hospitals/Medical Laboratories/Eckstein Medical Research Building/Bowen Science Building complex. The fifth and sixth floors house investigator research laboratories, core research laboratories, administrative offices, seminar rooms, and the cardiovascular library and learning resource unit.

The uniquely attractive feature of the Cardiovascular Center programs at Iowa is the closely working relationship and cooperation between members of the basic science departments and the members of the clinical departments, particularly the Departments of Medicine, Neurology, Pediatrics and Surgery. Another important element in the success of this Cardiovascular Center has been the availability of a critical mass of basic scientists and clinical investigators who have full-time faculty appointments with tenure at this university. This represents a major commitment of university and state resources to cardiovascular programs which have been a significant element in its stability and success.