The Cardiovascular Medical Research and Education Fund (CMREF: www.ipahresearch.org) is a non-profit fund operated solely for charitable, scientific and educational purposes. The CMREF mission is to aid in uncovering the etiology and pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), in pursuit of the ultimate goal of its treatment and cure.

In 2006, the CMREF awarded a 5 year center grant to aid in establishing a Penn/CMREF Cell Core, directed by Dr. Peter Lloyd Jones. In collaboration with numerous Investigators, including Dr. Darren Taichman at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, the Penn CMREF IPAH Center for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Research will: (1) Acquire control and IPAH tissues and fluid; (2) Isolate control and IPAH lung vascular, circulating cells and fluids; (3) Phenotype control and IPAH lung vascular, circulating cells and fluids; (4) Test, Preserve & Bank Cells; (5) Immortalize control & IPAH cells; (6) Distribute cells and fluids to the CMREF/IPAH network; (7) Define an IPAH plasma proteome and IPAH cell signalome; (8) Prepare material for network partners & interact with other Investigators; (9) Generate, coordinate and manage data. It is anticipated that the Penn/CMREF Center will help to rapidly expand knowledge in IPAH research, diagnoses and treatment.