Presentation at Scientific Sessions 2025 - Dr. Dai studies how immune–vascular interactions drive pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), focusing on crosstalk among macrophages, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells. Using molecular, cellular, genetic, and single‑cell approaches, he investigates a pro‑PAH macrophage subtype that disrupts the endothelial barrier and promotes smooth muscle activation. His goal is to define mechanisms sustaining remodeling and identify new therapeutic targets. He credits AHA support with providing critical funding and fostering new collaboration within a vibrant cardiovascular research community.

At Scientific Sessions 2025, Dr. Sobrano Fais presented work from his Postdoctoral Fellowship with Dr. Tim Lahm exploring how sex hormones modulate NLRP3 signaling and its impact on right ventricular failure in pulmonary hypertension. He is also gaining expertise in hemodynamics and inflammatory signaling. He has submitted two first-author manuscripts on calcium signaling and oxidative stress in NLRP3 activity. Dr. Sobrano Fais’s long-term goal is to become an independent investigator studying developmental pathways and gene expression alterations in human disease.

Dr. Bayer won the Melvin Marcus Early Career Award during Scientific Sessions for work that was initially funded by an American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship. He credits the award as his first source of funding as a PhD student that helped get his research off the ground. "I was also able to meet a significant portion of my network and friends who will help my career for many years to come," said Bayer. "I look forward to the opportunity to give back to the Association as my career progresses!"

Selected for the George Layman Duff Memorial Lecture Series at Scientific Sessions 2025, Dr. Singh presented on his goal to identify new therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular disease by uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying endothelial cell contributions to plaque formation and resolution. "Career Development Award support from the American Heart Association has been pivotal in advancing this work by providing both critical research funding and opportunities for professional growth."

Presentation at Scientific Sessions 2025 - As a physician turned statistician and health data analyst at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Ateh Stanislas joined the Heart Association-funded SAFE HEART Women Study to improve cardiovascular health among women. They examined risk perception in 139 reproductive-age women using Life’s Essential 8 framework. Over half underestimated their cardiovascular risk, despite poor health metrics. Underestimation was strongly associated with low health literacy, racial/ethnic minority status, and multiple social risks, even after adjusting for demographics and psychological factors. Presented at Scientific Sessions, this work highlights a critical barrier to prevention: Women cannot act on risks they do not recognize. The team is now developing targeted community interventions to raise awareness among vulnerable groups.

Tadashi Yoshida, PhD, was a dedicated cardiovascular researcher specializing in skeletal muscle physiology and improving the management of congestive heart failure. His work was continuously supported by the American Heart Association, which brought many of his scientific ideas to life. He attended the Scientific Sessions every year, eager to exchange ideas and spark meaningful discussions. Tadashi passed away last summer. His final presentation at Scientific Sessions 2025 was organized and delivered by his longtime colleague, Mr. Charles Seth Lott.

Submitted by Yilin Yoshida, PhD, MPH, FAHA, to whom we extend our heartfelt sympathy.

With Postdoctoral Fellowship support from an American Heart Association, Dr. Yuan joined Dr. Scott Damrauer’s lab at the University of Pennsylvania to study epigenetic mechanisms in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), an area with limited prior research. Their work, which Dr. Yuan presented at Scientific Sessions 2025, identified potential causal DNA methylation markers, clarified mechanistic pathways, and developed a methylation-based risk score that enhances prediction of AAA. These findings provide new directions for understanding AAA etiology and improving clinical risk stratification.

Research Alumni and Past President of the American Heart Association, Mitch Elkind, MD, MS, FAHA, joined No Brain Behind podcast episode hosts, Angel Cadena-Tejada, MD and Rachel Forman, MD, to share career insights, what led him to a career in neurology and vascular research, and how these interdisciplinary roots shape his perspective on patient care and scientific inquiry. He also discusses how American Heart is expanding its role in promoting brain health and addressing health inequities through community-focused initiatives and inclusive research funding.

Dr. Courtney Glavis-Bloom, a neuroscientist at the Salk Institute, presented a TEDx talk about her groundbreaking research on the neurobiological changes that occur with aging, and their link to cognitive decline and resilience. Her work is largely supported by the AHA-Allen Initiative in Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment.

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