American Heart Association Awards $2 Million to Researchers Exploring Diabetes-Cardiovascular Disease Connections

The American Heart Association has selected two prominent researchers to receive $1 million grants each, supporting groundbreaking investigations into the complex interactions between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Ann Marie Schmidt from NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Dr. Elizabeth Selvin from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health will conduct innovative studies aimed at understanding and potentially mitigating the devastating health impacts of these interconnected conditions.

Schmidt's research will focus on investigating how white blood cells in diabetic patients contribute to systemic bodily damage. Her team will explore a specific protein molecule called the 'receptor for advanced glycation end products' (RAGE), which may explain the mechanism by which diabetic white blood cells cause widespread health complications. By studying both diabetic and non-diabetic mouse and human white blood cells, Schmidt hopes to develop potential new treatment therapies that could reduce the extensive health risks associated with diabetes.

Selvin's research will concentrate on improving cardiovascular health for diabetes patients, building upon her previous groundbreaking work establishing clinical criteria for diabetes diagnosis using hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Her current project will examine wearable continuous glucose monitors and their relationship to cardiometabolic risk in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The Merit Awards represent a significant investment in understanding the intricate relationship between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Diabetes is a major controllable risk factor for cardiovascular complications, and both conditions are experiencing increasing prevalence globally. By supporting detailed scientific investigations, the American Heart Association aims to develop more effective strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

These research initiatives are particularly critical given the substantial health burden posed by diabetes and cardiovascular disease. People with diabetes face significantly higher risks of strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, blindness, and kidney problems. The funded research seeks to unravel the complex molecular mechanisms underlying these connections, potentially offering new insights that could improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

The American Heart Association has a long-standing commitment to advancing medical research, having funded over $5.9 billion in scientific investigations since 1949. By supporting innovative researchers like Schmidt and Selvin, the organization continues its mission to drive scientific discovery and ultimately save lives.