On Sept. 26, researchers filled the Gatton Student Center's Grand Ballrooms to celebrate the 27th annual Cardiovascular Research Day. This event recognizes a spectrum of research, including highlighting researchers who have made significant contributions to the field of cardiovascular medicine.
The Gill Heart and Vascular Institutes' Early Career Awards went to the following researchers:
Amy Siebert-McKenzie, PhD, Assistant Professor at Oakland University, whose independent research program will investigate how distinct alternative splicing events in TFPI and other clotting factors modulate the hemostatic balance and how these events are dysregulated in bleeding and clotting disorders.
Masataka Nishiga, MD, PhD, Instructor at Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and incoming Assistant Professor at Ohio State University, who investigates the root of cardiac disease and heart failure to develop more effective therapies.
Khalid El Saafien, PhD, Assistant Professor at Louisana State University Health Science Center at Shreveport, is an integrative neurophysiologist with an interest in the autonomic control and regulation of blood pressure.
Mengmeng Huang, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, who investigates the genetic mechanisms that govern heart development and disease.
The Gill Heart and Vascular Institute's Outstanding Contributions to Cardiovascular Research Award went to Joseph Hill, MD, PhD. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of remodeling in the disease-stressed myocardium.
The featured speaker of this year's event was Claire Pomeroy, MD, MBA, President of the Lasker Foundation, which is dedicated to improving health by accelerating support for medical research through recognition of research excellence, education and advocacy.
This year's Distinguished Alumni presentation was given by Frank Davis, MD, an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan Department of Surgery and Section Chief of Vascular Surgery at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center. He has clinical specialization in the surgical and endovascular management of aortic aneurysms, aorto-Iliac occlusive disease, cerebral vascular disease and peripheral arterial disease.
Rani Saha presented the Saha Awards for Cardiovascular Research and Education to the following recipients:
University of Kentucky Nursing Student Award: Jessica Borzansky
University of Kentucky Medical Student Award: Olivia Hage
Eastern Kentucky Nursing Student: Katherine Maupin
Paula Fritz, RN Award for Patient Education: Jimer Battaile
Students, staff, and trainees from institutes around the country showcased their work at the event. The Science As Art competition has gained in popularity since its inaugural run last year, and the winners received Saha Cardiovascular Research Center swag. A rousing game of Kahoot! to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Saha Cardiovascular Research Center was played to finish out the conference.
Cardiovascular Research Day is made possible by support from the UK Cardiovascular Research Priority Area, the UK HealthCare Gill Heart and Vascular Institute, the UK Saha Cardiovascular Research Center and the UK Saha Aortic Center.