2025–2026 NHLCC Scholar: Christian Andrade Herrera

Christian Andrade Herrera

PhD
University of California, Irvine

Christian Andrade Herrera is a third-year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, focusing on cardiovascular health under the guidance of Dr. Pim Oomen, and a graduate emphasis in Chicano/Latine studies. As an NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Biomedical Engineering and Social Sciences (BEST) Fellow and a UC-HBCU Fellow, his work focuses on examining sex differences and the growth and remodeling of the cardiopulmonary system in special populations.

The son of Mexican immigrants and a former DACA recipient, Christian was raised in rural Southwest Georgia, where cardiovascular disease and diabetes are prevalent. His experiences seeking equitable access to healthcare, coupled with nearly losing his grandmother to cardiovascular disease, drive his commitment to advancing cardiovascular research and reducing health disparities.

Christian earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, with a minor in Biology, from Albany State University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). As an undergraduate, he worked on health equity initiatives, including providing sex education resources to students and promoting COVID-19 vaccination uptake among Black men on college campuses.

At UC Irvine, Christian is dedicated to increasing the representation of low-income and historically excluded groups in biomedical research and to building inclusive communities. He founded an LGBTQ+ organization during his undergraduate years and launched a Latino-focused graduate organization at UCI to foster peer-to-peer support.

His long-term goal is to establish his own research group, leading an interdisciplinary lab that addresses cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary issues through a lens informed by his training in Biomedical Engineering, Public Health, Social Science, and Chemistry.

Outside the lab, Christian enjoys writing poetry, trying new recipes, going to the beach, traveling, and attending music events.