Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute

The Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute was founded in 2007 to bring together Cedars-Sinai's strong research, clinical and educational programs. Internationally known cardiologist and researcher Eduardo Marbán, MD, PhD serves as the institute's first director.

Research

Cedars-Sinai's reputation in heart disease research is built on decades of innovation. Breakthroughs pioneered at Cedars-Sinai include:

  • the world's first Cardiac Care Unit
  • techniques to dissolve blood clots and dilate blood vessels – now used worldwide
  • the invention of the Swan-Ganz catheter, which triggered a revolution in critical cardiac care, and
  • the development of nuclear cardiology and excimer laser atherectomy

Heart Institute researchers conduct basic research and clinical trials in a wide range of areas. Early detection of heart disease, new treatments for congestive heart failure, the role of blood thinners in heart failure, the effects of supplemental magnesium on heart disease patients and the effects of hormone replacement therapy on women with heart disease are just a few examples of current avenues of investigation.

A major focus of the Heart Institute is the study of stem cells. Heart Institute researchers have developed means to harvest stem cells from patients' own hearts. With funding from the National Institutes of Health, investigation focuses on how stem cells function in the cardiovascular system, and how they might be harnessed for potential applications in clinical cardiology.

Other examples of potential breakthrough research include:

  • investigating a new drug that can literally “wash away” arterial plaque
  • using a cardiac assist device as a permanent solution to cardiac disease, and
  • developing non-invasive cardiac imaging to detect signs of heart disease 15 to 20 years before it strikes.

Clinical Care

In 2007, Cedars-Sinai once again ranked as one of the country's top hospitals in Heart and Heart Surgery in the "America's Best Hospitals" edition of U.S. News & World Report.

Clinical programs offered at the Institute include:

  • Adult and pediatric cardiology
  • Cardiothoracic surgery
  • Heart transplantation, heart-lung transplantation and ventricular assist device implants (VADs)
  • Percutaneous heart valve replacements
  • Noninvasive imaging
  • Clinical electrophysiology
  • Vascular medicine
  • Preventive cardiology
  • Informatics and outcomes

Specialized facilities include:

  • The Cardiovascular Intervention Center and Electrophysiology Laboratory
  • Cardiac Noninvasive Laboratory
  • Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
  • Preventative and Rehabilitative Cardiac Center
  • Valvular Disease Center

Education

Cedars-Sinai's Division of Cardiology offers ACGME-approved fellowships in cardiology and clinical cardiac electrophysiology. Additionally, advanced training fellowships are offered in interventional cardiology, and nuclear cardiac imaging. The Department of Surgery has an ACGME approved residency in cadiothoracic surgery. In addition, Cedars-Sinai recently received an endowment from The Broad Foundation to fund a women's heart research fellowship within its Women's Heart Center. Scientists selected for the one-year fellowship study coronary disease that affects the small arteries found throughout the heart, as well as other women's heart disease research topics.

Leadership

Eduardo Marbán, MD, PhD
Director, Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute

Prediman K. Shah, MD, FACC, FACP, FCCP
Director, Division of Cardiology; Director, Atherosclerosis Research Center
Shapell and Webb Family Endowed Chair in Cardiology

Mark K. Urman, MD, FACC, FASE
Clinical Chief, Division of Cardiology

Alfredo Trento, MD, FACS
Director, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Estelle, Abe and Marjorie Sanders Endowed Chair in Cardiac Surgery

Daniel S. Berman, MD
Chief, Cardiac Imaging and Nuclear Cardiology