The Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research Network (CCTRN) is a network of physicians, scientists, and support staff dedicated to studying stem cell therapy for treating heart disease. The CCTRN is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and includes expert researchers with experience in cardiovascular care at five stem cell centers in the United States.  The goals of the Network are to complete research studies that will potentially lead to more effective treatments for patients with cardiovascular disease, and to share knowledge quickly with the healthcare community.

The mission of the CCTRN is to achieve public health advances for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, through the conduct and dissemination of collaborative research leading to evidence-based treatment options and improved outcome for patients with heart disease.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is one of 27 institutes/centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and supports research related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases; and sleep disorders. The NHLBI plans and directs research in the development and evaluation of interventions and devices related to prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients suffering from such diseases and disorders. http://www.nih.gov/about/organization.htm

Since 1971, the Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials (CCCT) at The University of Texas School of Public Health has played a leading role in cardiovascular disease and vision research by serving as a coordinating center for 16 nationwide multicenter clinical trials. The CCCT has had great success throughout its history of working with both federal and corporate sponsors and has a well-established reputation in the field of clinical trial research. The CCCT's primary function is to provide and coordinate all operations, procedures, and activities of a large-scale randomized controlled clinical trial. The CCCT serves as the Data Coordinating Center for The Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research Network.

The Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research network includes five stem cell centers in the United States with experience and expertise in clinical trials studying treatments for heart disease. These sites include: