The Dolores Kohl Kaplan and Morris A. Kaplan Preclinical Catheterization Laboratory, or PCL, is a modern, fully equipped animal facility where physician investigators and industry sponsors perform research studies. In addition, students, physicians and industry personnel come for training in state-of-the-art device technology and advanced procedures. The facility is led by renowned physicians and researchers. The laboratory also offers all the benefits of a contract research organization within an academic setting, such as rigorous record keeping and data maintenance; full standardization of forms, procedures and templates; and a multidisciplinary, experienced team of scientific, technical and veterinary staff on site.
The Rush PCL is unique in the Midwest. Physicians are always available on site to offer both scientific and clinical advice.
Services available
The Rush PCL can be contracted for either GLP or non-GLP studies, for physician training or for industry. Studies performed under GLP compliance are done in full accordance of the FDA’s GLP standards, allowing for true translational research. All aspects of our GLP studies are fully monitored and standardized through templates and operating procedures, including animal husbandry and study parameters, by our GLP-trained personnel. The Rush PCL is designated for large animal procedures including cardiac catheterization, percutaneous coronary intervention, thoracic procedures such as open-heart surgeries, vascular procedures, and non-survival or survival surgeries.
High-quality services, highly skilled staff
The Rush PCL, located within the Comparative Research Center, has GLP-trained personnel and offers GLP-compliant studies. We offer an in-house institutional animal care and use committee and an animal care and husbandry facility that are accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International. Moreover, our laboratory staff is certified by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science.
Additionally, our facility has a team of highly trained laboratory staff that consists of board-certified veterinarians, licensed veterinary technologists, laboratory animal technicians and certified histological technicians. We also have a dedicated full-time research supervisor to oversee preclinical laboratory physician training and all subsequent research, and to aid in organizing physician training courses.
Physician leadership
Rush PCL is led by distinguished and renowned physicians at Rush University Medical Center. Below is a list of our physician team:
- Clifford J. Kavinsky, MD, PhD
- Damien Kenny, MD
- Ziyad M. Hijazi, MD, MPH
- Massimo Caputo, MD
- Joshua Murphy, MD
The Preclinical Catheterization Laboratory at Rush was established through a generous donation by Dolores Kohl Kaplan and Morris A. Kaplan. We are incredibly grateful for their support of our endeavors.
Contact Us
Kelli Jones, MSN, RN, CCRC
Preclinical & Clinical Research Manager
Phone: (312) 942-8707
Email: core_pcl@rush.edu