Cardiovascular Phenotyping Unit

The Cardiovascular Phenotyping Unit provides cardiac testing services with shared facilities for both children and adults. The Unit provides the technical services and expertise to conduct the highest quality research, provides research tests in a cost-effective manner, and provides unparalleled training opportunities in clinical research for investigators, fellows, students and technicians. Most services are provided across the life cycle.  For studies involving both adult and pediatric populations, the pediatric and adult CPUs can collaborate closely and standardize procedures according to the investigators’ needs. Please contact the Directors for special arrangements or input regarding cardiovascular phenotyping.

Pediatric Unit

Vascular Laboratory Unit

  • Brachial Artery Reactivity (BART)
  • Carotid Intimal-Medi0al Thickness measurement (IMT)
  • Pulse Wave Velocity evaluation
  • Augmentation Index assessment

Electrocardiographic Laboratory Unit

  • 12 lead electrocardiogram

Echocardiographic Laboratory Unit

  • 2-dimensional imaging
  • Color flow imaging
  • Doppler imaging
  • Tissue doppler imaging
  • 3-dimensional imaging
  • Non-invasive assessment of ventricular performance

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Unit

  • Ambulatory blood pressure monitor: Professional interpretation of test results
  • Ambulatory blood pressure monitor: test

Pediatric Scientific Director:

Laura M. Mercer-Rosa, MD, MSCE
Email: mercerrosal@chop.edu

CHOP CHPS Cardiovascular Core

Adult Unit

  • Stress echocardiography
  • Tests of arterial structure/function
  • Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity
  • Central pressures
  • Wave reflections and augmentation index
  • Muscular artery stiffness measurements
  • Aortic pressure-flow relations
  • Exercise cardiovascular pheontyping
  • Vasodilatory reserve with exercise
  • Skeletal muscle oxygenation
  • Cardiac output reserve during exercise
  • CPET + Echocardiography combined studies
  • Myocardial function during exercise
  • Diastolic function assessments
  • Flow distribution during exercise
  • Skeletal muscle mitochondrial function testing
  • Near infrared spectroscopy

This unit is located on the PPMC campus on the first floor of the Mutch Building.

Adult Scientific Directors:

Bonnie Ky, MD, MSCE (HUP)
Email: bonnie.ky@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Benedicte Lefebvre, MD (HUP)
Email: Benedicte.Lefebvre@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Paco E. Bravo, MD (Presby)
Email: Paco.Bravo@pennmedicine.upenn.edu