DALLAS, Jan. 9, 2024 — Massachusetts physician-scientist studying whether chemicals naturally occurring in food can help treat heart disease A Pennsylvania genetics expert studying the effects of e-cigarettes on the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms, a California-based cardiovascular disease professor, and others recently Recipient of the American Heart Association Distinguished Service Award. Over the next five years, each researcher will receive a total of $1 million in funding from the association. The Society is the world’s leading volunteer organization focused on heart and brain health and research, and is currently celebrating 100 years of lifesaving work.
The American Heart Association Distinguished Service Award is one of the highest honors bestowed by the association. The Merit Award supports highly promising and novel research that has the potential to rapidly and impactfully advance cardiovascular science. The 2024 award winners are:
- Joseph Loscalzo, MD, FAHA, Hershey Distinguished Professor of Medical Theory and Practice, and Samuel A. Levine Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, former medical director and attending physician, professor emeritus at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
- Daniel J. Rader, MD, FAHA, Seymour Gray Professor of Molecular Medicine, Chair of the Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Chief of the Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia Hospital.and
- Dr. Philip S. Tsao, FAHA, is a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and deputy chief of staff for precision health at the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System in Palo Alto, California.
“This award supports outstanding scientists with an established track record of success. These are true innovations who propose new approaches to major research questions in the fields of heart disease, stroke and brain health. Specifically, their research has the potential to have an extraordinary impact on the American Heart Association’s mission to be a constant force for achieving longer, healthier lives. ” said Joseph C. Wu, MD, FAHA, American Heart. Simon H. Stelzer, Chairman of the Association of Volunteers, Director of the Stanford Heart and Vascular Institute, and Professor of Medical Radiology at Stanford School of Medicine. “As a recipient of this award in 2017, I know that this award comes with great honor and great responsibility. This year’s recipients are already recognized as leaders in the field of cardiovascular research. , I am confident that we will face the next challenge as champions of transformative science in the fight against heart disease and stroke.”
Locarso’s research focuses on the link between heart disease and certain foods, or chemicals naturally found in foods. He plans to use high-speed computers and modeling systems to investigate many of his 135,000 “natural” chemicals found in the world’s food supply. His research explores how these food chemicals interact with proteins in cells to affect how they work, and ultimately which chemicals may protect the heart. focus on. Using this information, his team plans to investigate how these compounds can be used to create diets that specifically protect against heart disease, laying the groundwork for developing new drugs that can be used to treat heart disease. is.
“Some may wonder why this project is exciting and worth funding. Over the years, many scientists and doctors have worked hard to create heart-healthy diets. “Their study was based on only a small amount of information (less than 1%) about the composition of food. Our approach is much broader in scope,” said Los Scalso. “We use the latest technology to investigate the vast number of chemicals found in food, so we can identify among them heart disease for the health of all people. could identify new “natural” treatments for. ”
Rader’s research will focus on new genes and pathways uncovered through large-scale human genetics that alter lipid metabolism and drive cardiovascular disease. Blood lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides are causative risk factors not only for coronary heart disease, but also for several other types of cardiovascular disease, such as aortic valve stenosis. Genetics plays a major role in lipid metabolism and cardiovascular disease, and many new genes have been identified whose underlying biology is not understood. Dr. Rader uses computational, experimental, and human-based research to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in regulating both blood lipids and cardiovascular disease. We will focus on new genes expressed in .
“We know that many risk factors for heart disease are inherited, and hundreds of genes have been identified, but we do not know how most of these genes influence heart disease risk. “We don’t know. There is a huge need to understand how these genes work together to promote or prevent heart disease,” Rader said. “By conducting studies in model systems and humans, we hope to solve some of these mysteries and gain a deeper understanding of how genes influence the development of cardiovascular disease. Unraveling the biological and cellular mechanisms of heart disease will help identify new therapeutic targets that may lead to medical advances to improve human health.”
Tsao’s research focuses on how e-cigarettes affect the risk of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a weakened abdominal aortic aneurysm (abdominal aortic aneurysm). Like the bubbles that form on the side of a bicycle tire, the pressure within an artery causes AAA bubbles to continue to grow until they burst, often resulting in death. Although some genes are associated with the risk of developing AAA disease, no gene is thought to cause AAA on its own. Rather, a person’s lifestyle can work together with their genes to cause AAA disease. Smoking is a prevalent risk factor among people with abdominal aortic aneurysms.
“Nearly 90% of people with abdominal aortic aneurysms have a history of smoking. In fact, AAA disease is more closely associated with smoking than any other tobacco-related disease except lung cancer. However, so far, smoking “There are very few studies explaining the relationship between AAA and AAA disease,” Tsao said. “Even less is known about the impact of vaping on the development of AAA. However, given how popular e-cigarettes are, especially among young people, understanding their impact on AAA disease is extremely important. Important. We propose to study the mechanisms by which e-cigarette vapor affects specific genes and worsens AAA growth. Elucidating these mechanisms may lead to new approaches to abdominal aortic aneurysm. Smoking is associated with many diseases, so these studies will also help us understand the broader long-term health effects of e-cigarettes and vaping. It might be helpful.”
Funding scientific research and discovery through initiatives such as the Annual Achievement Award is a cornerstone of the American Heart Association’s 100-year-old lifesaving mission. The association currently provides funding for: $5.7 billion for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and brain health research since 1949the single largest nongovernmental supporter of heart and brain health research in the United States. The new knowledge gained from this funding continues to save lives and directly impact millions of people in the United States and around the world.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is constantly working to help the world live longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with thousands of organizations and the power of millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for public health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. In 2024, our 100th anniversary, we celebrate our rich 100 years of history and achievements. As we move forward into his second century of bold discovery and impact, our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere.connect with us at heart.org, Facebook, X Or call 1-800-AHA-USA1.
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