title: A Protocol for Collecting Human Cardiac Tissue for Research.
abstract: This manuscript describes a protocol at the University of Kentucky that allows a translational research team to collect human myocardium that can be used for biological research. We have gained a great deal of practical experience since we started this protocol in 2008, and we hope that other groups might be able to learn from our endeavors. To date, we have procured ~4000 samples from ~230 patients. The tissue that we collect comes from organ donors and from patients who are receiving a heart transplant or a ventricular assist device because they have heart failure. We begin our manuscript by describing the importance of human samples in cardiac research. Subsequently, we describe the process for obtaining consent from patients, the cost of running the protocol, and some of the issues and practical difficulties that we have encountered. We conclude with some suggestions for other researchers who may be considering starting a similar protocol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
authors.forename: Cheavar A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Premi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Stuart G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
authors.forename: Mihail I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Mitov
authors.affiliation: Gill Heart Institute, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.affiliation: University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bonnell
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL.
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hoopes
authors.affiliation: Gill Heart Institute, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guglin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
authors.forename: Kenneth S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Campbell
keywords: Cardiac; Heart failure; Human; Ventricular assist device