The Cardiovascular Imaging Core Laboratory (CICL) offers cutting edge echocardiographic and vascular imaging to support and enhance human studies conducted within the NUHS. We establish and oversee compliance with imaging protocol guidelines and to provide quality assurance of echocardiograms and the associated data. The team provides interpretation and unbiased analysis for all types of cardiac ultrasound images obtained in pharmaceutical or other research studies by blinding to the randomization sequence. The Core Laboratory increases accuracy and reproducibility of interpreted results through consistent training and systematic analytical processes.

The CICL is experienced in providing analysis for clinical echocardiographic studies. Services offered by the CICL include but are not limited to:

• Assessment of cardiac remodeling, systolic and diastolic function, including advanced measures of regional myocardial deformation and 3-dimensional reconstruction and quantitation
• Wall motion scoring and analysis
• Echocardiographic analysis of drug and device trials
• Evaluation of cardiac resynchronization therapy
• Cardiac surgical trials involving hemodynamic evaluation of artificial heart valves, ventricular assist and other prosthetic devices
• Detection of vascular disease and premature atherosclerosis by evaluating plaque burden, intima-media thickness, arterial compliance and endothelial function