Where Cardiovascular Science Meets Clinical Practice
Cardiovascular research is foundational to the DCRI. Since 1969, our physician-scientists have led landmark trials that have reshaped cardiology guidelines and improved patient outcomes worldwide. In 2026, as we mark 30 years as a formal institution, we remain the world's largest full-service academic clinical research organization, bringing something no commercial CRO can replicate: trial design leaders who are also practicing cardiologists, personally overseeing the execution of the trials they design. Our clinicians understand and treat the same patients whose lives our research is designed to improve.
At ACC.26, more than 30 DCRI faculty and operations experts are leading and contributing to sessions that span heart failure, cardio-kidney-metabolic syndromes, digital health, cardiovascular risk factors, arrhythmias, acute coronary syndrome, interventional cardiology, and more. Their presence reflects the same integration of clinical insight and research rigor that defines every DCRI partnership.
Whether you are exploring a new research collaboration or seeking an experienced partner to coordinate your next clinical program, we invite you to connect with us in New Orleans and to explore the capabilities, expertise, and resources that make the DCRI a trusted partner.
Connect With Us at ACC to Explore Global Clinical Trial Support
Extensive, Integrated Clinical Trial Capabilities
From Phase I through post-marketing research, the DCRI delivers comprehensive clinical trial management tailored to your needs. Our innovative approach includes adaptive study designs, pragmatic and decentralized trial components, and specialized services like digital health solutions, advanced analytics, and safety surveillance. With decades of experience executing complex trials, we provide accelerated startup timelines, proactive site management, and FDA-ready data analysis that transforms promising therapies into approved treatments.
Explore the Opportunities
The DCRI offers an integrated suite of research capabilities, services, and partnership opportunities designed to meet the needs of sponsors, academic collaborators, and the next generation of clinical researchers wherever they are. Select any area below to learn more.
The DCRI traces its roots to the founding of the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease in 1969, the world's oldest and largest cardiovascular database. Since then, our physician-scientists have led landmark global trials that have redefined clinical guidelines across heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, prevention, arrhythmias, and interventional cardiology. Today, our cardiovascular research team combines innovative study design, fit-for-purpose analytics, and a commitment to rapid dissemination of knowledge, all grounded in the clinical insight only practicing cardiologists can bring.
The DCRI's CSI+ team delivers a cross-functional, independent approach to the core medical requirements of clinical trials. Our five specialized services — Clinical Events Classification, Safety Surveillance, Imaging Core Lab, Arrhythmia Core Lab, and Hemodynamics Core Lab — work in concert to produce validated, high-quality data that meets Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency standards. With one of the longest-running independent event adjudication programs in the world, CSI+ brings unmatched expertise, operational precision, and regulatory credibility to every engagement.
As artificial intelligence and digital technologies reshape clinical research, sponsors need a partner who can evaluate, validate, and deploy these tools with scientific rigor. The DCRI's Digital Health Solutions team bridges cutting-edge technology and real-world clinical application, from AI algorithm evaluation and wearable validation to decentralized trial design and digital biomarker development. Our clinicians use digital health tools in their own patient care, giving us a perspective that purely technical organizations cannot offer.
The DCRI believes collaboration among research sites, community partners, patients, their caregivers, and our study teams is critical to addressing current challenges in medical care. With over 1,100 U.S.-based research sites and partners in more than 40 countries, we harness the collective expertise of those who are equally committed to safe, accessible, and efficient clinical research. Join us as we build the future of clinical research.
Since 1996, the DCRI Fellowship Program has trained more than 300 postdoctoral fellows from leading academic institutions around the world. Fellows work directly with renowned faculty mentors on multi-center trials, registries, and innovative research to gain the skills and network to lead the next generation of research innovation.
Start Collaborating
Join us as we build the future of clinical research. Contact the DCRI to discuss your upcoming studies and learn how to leverage our expertise.
DCRI News From ACC.26
Stay tuned for a recap of news and DCRI-led presentations at ACC26.
Stay Current With DCRI's Podcast: Beyond the Endpoint
The DCRI's podcast, Beyond the Endpoint, brings faculty expertise and leading voices to the science, policy, and innovation shaping modern medicine. Join Dr. Manesh Patel and Dr. Emily O'Brien every other Wednesday as they demystify clinical research and healthcare through conversations with renowned clinicians and scientists.
Season 2 Highlighted Episodes