TAMU HSC Temple is the home of the Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI) established in 1998 when the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved changing the name from the Microcirculation Research Institute which was established in 1981. The name change reflected the expanding scope and role of the scientists’ work. The purpose of the cardiovascular science faculty is to foster communication and collaboration among faculty involved in cardiovascular research, education, and training.The major objective of this institute is to discover and disseminate new knowledge about the heart, blood vessels, and lymphatics in normal and disease states. Discovery with an emphasis on human health requires basic and clinical research; therefore our research team consists of basic scientists and physician/scientists from a wide variety of fields and disciplines. To facilitate research today and for future generations, the CVRI provides an environment for the training of undergraduates, medical students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and residents.