In addition to serving as collection centers, many of the centers carried out individual research projects. At the University of Alabama in Birmingham, two separate but related investigations were conducted: Dr. Miller analyzed the various collagens by solubilizing them as peptide fractions and isolating the peptides via chromatography; Dr. Gay used monoclonal antibodies to define the distribution of the various collagens in atheromatous lesions. At the West Virginia University under Dr. Jagannathan, there were studies on isomeric fatty acids and proteoglycans. Dr. Reichenbach at the University of Washington studied the distribution of immunocytochemical markers of smooth muscle cell differentiation and leukocyte subpopulations in the coronary arteries as well as searched for viral DNA in plaques. At Baylor, the three-dimensional distribution of lipid inclusions, macrophages, and smooth muscle cells in coronary arteries were determined by digital fluorescence. Dr. Mergner of the University of Maryland collected specimens in the immediate autopsy program which provided specimens free of autolysis. He also performed transmission and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis, lipid analysis, and immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase procedures to define calcium content and cytoskeletal components. Dr. Virmani at Vanderbilt determined the role of biogenic amines such as histamine, serotonin, and catecholamines in atherosclerosis and correlated the content of amines with the presence of mast cells in the adventitia.