The principal objective of the Vascular Biology graduate program is to provide high quality training to students in all aspects of science related to Vascular Biology so that the individual assumes leadership roles in the changing world of twenty-first century biomedical scientific research. This program was created in the year 2000 and takes advantage of the strength of research on the MCG campus in the area of cardiovascular science and medicine. The program is designed to prepare students for a variety of career options in biomedical research and education that includes academic, pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields. The program requires approximately 4 years of full-time study, including basic and advanced course work, seminars, examinations and dissertation research.

The Vascular Biology Center was established in 1995. The Center faculty currently includes 12 full-time core members whose newly renovated laboratories are located in over 19,000 square feet of space on the third floor of the Sanders Research & Education Building. Students can choose to do their dissertation research in the laboratory of one of the core faculty or with one of over 20 associate members who also hold graduate faculty status.