**Director of Specialty:** Associate Professor Wu Guifu, Master's Supervisor **Composition of Specialty:** The specialty currently consists of three relatively independent working units: the Biomaterials and Polymer Research Laboratory, the Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation of the Ministry of Health, and the External Counterpulsation Center. **1. Introduction to the Specialty** The Cardiovascular Experimental Specialty of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University is composed of the former Artificial Heart Research Laboratory (which has shifted its focus to biomaterials and polymer research over the past decade), the Assisted Circulation Laboratory, and the Cardiovascular Clinical Laboratory. It is the sole experimental research institution within the cardiovascular internal medicine and surgery system of our hospital. A formal specialty structure was established in September 2005 for unified coordination and management. The Director of the specialty is Associate Professor Wu Guifu, who returned from studying at Harvard Medical School in the USA. In terms of institutional structure, it includes departments for hemodynamics, histomorphology, cell and molecular biology, cell and tissue engineering, as well as image analysis and processing, animal experiments, and data processing. Regarding the talent team, besides clinical professors engaged in part-time research, it also includes 5 full-time basic researchers and 6 experimental technicians. In terms of laboratory development level, the plan is to gradually optimize and integrate resources to establish a high-level, efficient, multifunctional, and open cardiovascular experimental research platform within our hospital, aiming to become a provincial or ministerial key laboratory within 1-3 years. In certain advantageous projects (such as external counterpulsation), the goal is to become an internationally renowned laboratory and research center. **2. Research Directions** ① Basic and clinical research on external counterpulsation, and development of new equipment ② Cellular and molecular interventional therapy for cardiovascular diseases, cell and tissue engineering ③ Application of umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases ④ Atherosclerosis and vascular biology **3. Institutional Structure** The laboratory consists of the following institutions and research platforms: Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Tissue and Morphology Laboratory, Hemodynamics Laboratory, Biomaterials and Polymer Research Laboratory, Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, and External Counterpulsation Laboratory. **4. Existing Basic Conditions and Facilities** The current experimental research space covers approximately 800 m². A series of large specialized instruments and equipment necessary for basic theoretical research have been purchased, such as: Laser Doppler Flowmeter, 16-channel Physiological Recorder, Ultra-low Temperature Freezer, Microscope Imaging Analysis System, Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging System, High-speed Refrigerated Centrifuge, CO₂ Incubator, etc., with a total value of 1,534,200 RMB. This has significantly improved the existing research conditions and environment, providing a material foundation for research development and laying a foundation for strengthening research capabilities and promoting the successful completion of teaching and research tasks. (1) Experimental Research Sites: Current experimental research sites include: the 8th floor of the Comprehensive Building of the First Affiliated Hospital (former Artificial Heart Research Laboratory), the 15th and 16th floors of the He Mu Liu Tai Fu Ren Building (Assisted Circulation Laboratory), and the 2nd floor of the former Internal Medicine Building (Cardiovascular Clinical Laboratory, 2 rooms totaling approximately 60 m²). (2) Talent Team: The current laboratory researchers consist of permanent research staff and clinical part-time researchers. There are 4 permanent research and experimental support personnel, over 10 part-time researchers, and over 20 rotating laboratory researchers (including master's and doctoral students, and postdoctoral fellows). (3) Ongoing Projects and Funding: Two research projects have been completed, with total funding of 1.6 million RMB, including 1 national key project and 1 National Natural Science Foundation project. There are 11 ongoing research projects, with total funding of 4.275 million RMB, including 3 National Natural Science Foundation projects and 7 provincial/ministerial level projects. (4) Awarded Achievements: The clinical study of external counterpulsation for treating coronary heart disease (RECC) received the Excellent Achievement Award of the National Ninth Five-Year Key Science and Technology Project. (5) Achievement Transformation: In the past 3 years, 1 foreign invention patent and 3 domestic invention patents have been granted. (6) Publications: In the past 3 years, a total of 70 research reports and papers have been published, including 45 in domestic core journals and 16 in international journals (SCI indexed). **5. Laboratory Operation Mechanism and Management Model** We have taken measures to gradually optimize and integrate the laboratory's human resources and equipment resources. While maintaining traditional advantageous projects, we are exploring new, promising research projects that can promote disciplinary development, continuing to adhere to the direction of applied basic research and technology development. In management, we have introduced a Principal Investigator (PI) system, strengthened the quality tracking of projects and supervision of fund usage, and enhanced experimental file management (including original data). We aim to cultivate 1-3 high-level, high-quality technical personnel in each important research field. The PI is responsible to the laboratory director, responsible for the quality of the project, and responsible for the efficiency of fund utilization. We establish domestic and international academic cooperation relationships to promote horizontal exchanges. Leveraging the advantageous project of external counterpulsation, we aim to build a high-level cardiovascular experimental research platform under modern management. **6. Department Introduction** **(1) External Counterpulsation Center** External counterpulsation involves the patient lying supine on a counterpulsation bed, with specially designed air cuffs wrapped around the lower limbs and buttocks. Under ECG monitoring, sequential compression is applied from distal to proximal on the lower limbs and buttocks, causing blood from the lower body to flow back to the upper body, thereby improving blood perfusion to organs such as the heart and brain. Our hospital's External Counterpulsation Unit was established in 1976. In September of that year, the four-limb sequential external counterpulsation device developed by Professor Zheng Zhensheng was first used nationwide to treat acute myocardial infarction. Subsequently, it was gradually and widely used for ischemic diseases such as coronary heart disease angina pectoris, post-coronary stent implantation, post-coronary artery bypass grafting, cerebral ischemic attacks due to cerebral atherosclerosis, retinal artery embolism, ischemic optic neuropathy, and sudden deafness. In 1980, Professor Zheng Zhensheng further designed the "Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP)", which significantly improved systemic blood circulation and organ ischemia. In the 1980s, EECP was rapidly promoted nationwide, and Professor Zheng Zhensheng is thus known as the "Father of External Counterpulsation". Since 1976, our unit has treated tens of thousands of patients with various ischemic diseases, with the vast majority experiencing varying degrees of symptom relief. In 1996, our unit, together with the Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation of the Ministry of Health, undertook the national "Ninth Five-Year" key project "Research on External Counterpulsation therapy in Coronary artery disease (RECC)", leading over ten large hospitals nationwide. After treating over 300 coronary heart disease patients with external counterpulsation and following them for five years, evidence-based medical evidence for the long-term efficacy of coronary heart disease was obtained, showing that external counterpulsation plays an important role in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular events and improving survival and quality of life in coronary heart disease patients. In 2001, this research achievement was jointly awarded the "Excellent Scientific and Technological Achievement of the National Ninth Five-Year Key Science and Technology Project" by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the State Planning Commission, and the State Economic and Trade Commission. In 2001, our unit, together with the Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation of the Ministry of Health, undertook the national "Tenth Five-Year" key project, achieving significant breakthroughs in theoretical research. Previously, we emphasized that external counterpulsation increases diastolic pressure and promotes collateral circulation formation, but now we place greater emphasis on external counterpulsation targeting increased blood flow shear stress. In May 2006, our unit assisted in hosting the First International Conference on External Counterpulsation, which was a great success. Professor Zheng Zhensheng has trained 36 master's students and 16 doctoral and postdoctoral students. Our unit is one of the specialized departments under the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. Merged with the Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation of the Ministry of Health in 2005, it combines clinical and research advantages, achieving an internationally advanced and domestically leading comprehensive level. It has 1 Chief Physician, 2 Associate Chief Physicians, 1 Attending Physician, and 6 technical staff. It has nine external counterpulsation machines, capable of accommodating over 50 patients for counterpulsation therapy daily. It has complete emergency equipment and measures. The patient treatment environment is comfortable. Working hours are Monday to Friday all day and Saturday morning. The counterpulsation specialty clinic is held on Monday morning, and Professor Zheng Zhensheng's counterpulsation expert clinic is held on Thursday morning. The External Counterpulsation Center is open to both outpatients and inpatients. External Counterpulsation Unit Office Phone: 87332200-8161 **(2) Assisted Circulation Laboratory** This laboratory possesses a number of advanced research equipment, such as: "Ultrasonic Doppler Flowmeter", "Gel Image Analyzer", "Laser Doppler Flowmeter", "Physiological Recorder", "CO₂ Cell Culture Incubator", "Ultra-low Temperature Freezer", "PCR Machine", etc. This creates an excellent software