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Molecular Cardiology Research Institute (MCRI)

The Molecular Cardiology Research Institute (MCRI) at Tufts Medical Center studies the molecular mechanisms of common cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack, stroke, heart failure and high blood pressure, and then translates these discoveries into new clinical strategies for diagnosis and therapy.

The heart of MCRI's mission is its commitment to cardiovascular research

Our mission emphasizes training and mentoring physicians and scientists committed to careers in cardiovascular research. The MCRI staff is comprised of 13 investigators and physician-scientists and more than 40 researchers and trainees from around the world. 

They work closely together in state-of-the art research facilities on the campus of Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine in downtown Boston.

Founded in 1997, MCRI is led by Executive Director Iris Jaffe, MD, PhD, a vascular biologist and cardiologist. Dr. Jaffe is the recipient of numerous awards and honors for her contributions to cardiovascular research, including: 

Improving cardiovascular health through groundbreaking research

MCRI applies advanced molecular methods to understanding mechanisms important in human biology and disease. The ultimate goal of MCRI researchers is to translate groundbreaking basic findings into new clinical strategies for diagnosis and therapy, with a focus on: 

  • Small molecule drug discovery
  • Device development
  • Molecular predictive strategies

Ongoing studies include investigations of novel mechanisms driving ischemic cardiovascular diseases such as angina and myocardial infarction, as well as other major cardiovascular disorders, especially hypertension, congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and disorders of cardiac electrophysiology.

Continually investing in people, discovery and technology

To fulfill our objectives of conducting basic research for translation into new diagnostics and therapies and educating the next generation of cardiovascular researchers, MCRI has invested in four principal areas.

Contact info
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15 Kneeland St.
Tupper Building
Boston, MA 02111
people

Active recruitment

Recruiting scientists and physician-scientists with exceptional training, knowledge and accomplishments.

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Specialized programs

Establishing and expanding specialized programs in cardiovascular research across 17 laboratories.

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Our core facilities

Building and continually upgrading state-of-the-art Core facilities, including a whole-animal mouse physiology facility and a fully equipped transgenic mouse facility.

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Training + education

Developing and delivering pre-doctoral, graduate and post-graduate training and education that attracts brilliant minds from all over the world, including students from the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences.

Research capabilities + focus areas

The MCRI programmatic areas of focus include: 

  • Vascular biology
  • Cardiomyocyte biology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Human genetics and genomics
  • Molecular pharmacology
  • Signal transduction

Members of the MCRI work closely and collaboratively with clinical cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons, biochemists, neuroscientists, pharmacologists, geneticists and epidemiologists at Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University to further research in all facets of cardiovascular diseases.

MCRI research faculty

  • Iris Z. Jaffe, MD, PhD
  • Robert R. Blanton, Jr., MD
  • Isabelle Draper, PhD
  • Gordon S. Huggins, MD
  • Navin Kapur, MD
  • Alan Kopin, MD

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Directions

To reach the Tupper Building, enter the main entrance to Tufts Medical Center at 800 Washington Street. You will be in the Atrium. Take the stairs on your left and walk to the end of the hallway. You will see a bank of elevators at the end of the hallway.

Take the elevator to the 7th floor.  Once you leave the elevators, take a right and enter Dental 7. Walk through the Dental School corridor until you come to the connector to the Tupper Building. Take the connector and you will be on the 10th floor of the Tupper Building. Use the elevators to get to any other floor of the building.

Find driving directions to Tufts Medical Center and a map of the campus.

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