iSupport is an easy way to support world-class medical research at Cleveland Clinic. Please make sure to select "Lerner Research Institute" on the second page of the online form under "Gift Designation".

Centers of Research
Centers of focused research provide structured environments where researchers and clinicians can work together on projects that are both clinically relevant and fundamentally important. These currently include the following:

Research Departments and Centers

The Institute is an integrated research community consisting of eleven Departments and eleven Centers of Research:

  1. Biomedical Engineering: Research in the Department of Biomedical Engineering bridges the gap between basic and clinical research. Major research interests focus on novel cardiovascular devices, biomedical imaging technology, biomedical micro electrical mechanical systems, connective tissue biology, musculoskeletal research, biomechanics, and tissue engineering.
  2. Cancer Biology: In the Department of Cancer Biology, molecular genetic techniques are applied to common malignancies to identify molecular markers that may prove useful in early diagnosis of or novel treatments for cancer. Research programs relevant to the molecular biology and genetics of cancer seek to define the basic events controlling cellular responses to external cues that signal cell growth, division, differentiation or death. Department members interact extensively with Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Center.
  3. Cell Biology: The Department of Cell Biology investigates the roles of specific cell types in health and disease. Research programs within the Department's fifteen laboratories focus extensively on vascular cell and molecular biology, inflammation, renal cell biology, and cancer.
  4. Genomic Medicine: The Genomic Medicine Institute serves as the expert base for the principles and practice of genomic medicine by being a single platform for scholarly activity (research), academic clinical care and outreach/education ultimately directed at genomics-based personalized healthcare.
  5. Immunology: Investigators in the Department of Immunology study the regulation and function of T-cells and the innate immune system. These topics include consideration of antigen specific T cell receptor driven response, leukocyte trafficking, cytokine signaling and gene expression, nitric oxide synthase biology, and antimicrobial peptides and genes. Many of the ongoing research projects emphasize problems in understanding and treatment of human disease including organ transplantation, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and cancer.
  6. Molecular Genetics: The activity of the Department of Molecular Genetics is aimed at understanding the structure and function of cellular genes and the regulation of their expression. Department members are leaders in studying the molecular mechanisms of stress-cytokine and oncogene-mediated signal transduction, RNA synthesis and processing, structural biology of RNA-protein complexes and of membrane receptors, and the biology of the p53 tumor suppressor.
    The Section of Virology investigates the molecular and immunological base of the infectious process of human viruses. Current programs focus on the biosynthetic pathways of pathogenic viruses such as vesicular stomatitis virus, human parainfluenza viruses and hepatitis virus C, as well as the molecular bases of variability, evolution and antiretroviral resistance of the human immunodeficiency virus.
  7. Molecular Cardiology: The Department of Molecular Cardiology's research programs address significant physiologic and pathophysiologic mechanisms that occur in the heart and vascular system, including hypertension, heart failure, vascular and thrombotic diseases, as well as the structural and genetic bases for these cardiovascular pathologies.
  8. Neurosciences: The Department of Neurosciences investigates the cellular and molecular biology of brain development, neuronal function and epilepsy, cerebrovascular disease, and neuro-oncology. Programs investigating neurodegenerative disease focus on multiple sclerosis, ALS and Parkinson's Disease. Research in glial development and myelin formation is closely integrated with clinical studies conducted in collaboration with CCF physicians.
  9. Pathobiology: The mission of the Department of Pathobiology is the discovery of mechanisms and origins of human disease, and the use of that knowledge for the development of basic and applied strategies for detection, prevention and control of diseases.
  10. Quantitative Health Sciences: The mission of the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences is to excel in the design, conduct, and analysis of clinical research by providing methodological development and collaborative, educational support for research at Cleveland Clinic.
  11. Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine