EACVI Accreditation

The Vascular Research Clinic obtained the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging  (EACVI) laboratory accreditation for non-invasive cardiovascular ultrasound imaging in 2019.

Mission

The laboratory is a bespoke, academic, research-focussed unit situated within the Division of Experimental Medicine & Immunotherapeutics, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. It provides high-end cardiovascular imaging support for moderate to large scale cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular trials (e.g. oncology) and experimental protocols.

The main ethos of the laboratory is to conduct high-quality echocardiographic imaging for research as well as for clinical use within the frameworks set out in ICH GCP for research studies. We conduct studies to the highest standards for clinical trials of investigational medicinal products (CTIMPs) as well as non-CTIMP studies which are ethically approved.

Echocardiograms are conducted by senior echocardiographers who are British Society for Echocardiography (BSE) and European of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) accredited. All our echocardiograms are reported immediately and produced to the templates required for research studies. Studies are backed up onto standard media and in digital archives as required by trial sponsors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capabilities

Comprehensive echocardiographic imaging including 2D assessments of:

Left/right ventricular size and function

Regional wall motion assessments

Valvular structure and function

Doppler analyses

LV remodelling analysis

Strain and dyssynchrony analysis

3D imaging

Exercise (stress) imaging

Vascular imaging:

Carotid IMT imaging

Flow mediated dilatation

Arterial stiffness (tonometry)

Other imaging:

Maximal oxygen uptake testing

24 hour Ambulatory BP monitoring

Forearm plethysmography

Heart rate variability testing

Funding support

The clinic receives funding support from the Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, NIHR Research funding streams as well as charities such as the Medical Research Council and JP Moulton Charitable Foundation.