A prominent cardiovascular health researcher at the University of Kentucky whose work is internationally recognized in the field of vascular biology has been honored for her groundbreaking work by the American Heart Association (AHA).
Hong Lu, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of physiology in the UK College of Medicine, was selected to receive the inaugural David A. Dichek Mid-Career Investigator Award.
“I am deeply honored by this recognition from the American Heart Association. It is a privilege to contribute to research that advances our understanding of cardiovascular health and disease,” said Lu, who’s also core faculty in the Saha Cardiovascular Research Center. “I deeply appreciate the spirit of team science — both within our lab and on a national and international level — and I hope we will continue striving to uncover new insights that improve patient outcomes and inspire future generations of scientists.”
The honor highlights a mid-career researcher who has published a transformational article in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (ATVB) in 2024. Lu also serves as the senior technical editor for ATVB, overseeing the rigor and transparency of original research manuscripts.
Lu’s study published in ATVB was supported by the AHA, the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Leducq Foundation and the College of Medicine. “This study advances our understanding of key pathological features and heterogeneity of aortic disease and opens new avenues for potential therapeutic intervention.”
She performed a comprehensive characterization of the complex pathologies of a fatal diseased condition, aortic aneurysms and dissections. Her findings provide novel insights into how pathogenesis and molecular pathways influence aortic health and disease, with potential implications for future treatment strategies.
The award also honors the legacy of Dichek and his dedication to scientific rigor, service and mentorship. Lu was selected for her extensive service with the AHA and mentoring of trainees.
“Witnessing the professional growth of students and fellows has been particularly rewarding,” said Lu. “It is always a great joy to work with students and fellows through every stage of conducting experiments, from formulating hypotheses to designing experiments and analyzing data.”
Lu received a plaque at the AHA Vascular Discovery Scientific Sessions back in the spring and $2,500 from ATVB.
Read the full study online here.
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R01HL139748, and R35HL155649, and by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Cooperative Agreement Number UL1TR001998. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
This work was supported by American Heart Association grant #23MERIT1036341 / Alan Daugherty, Hisashi Sawada / 2023.
This work was supported by American Heart Association grant #24CDA1268148 / Hisashi Sawada, Alan Daugherty, Hong Lu /2024.
Supported by a grant from the Leducq Foundation.