The American Heart Association will present the inaugural Jack Sarver Prize in Clinical Science to Zainab Mahmoud, M.D., M.Sc., of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and the Jack Sarver Prize in Basic Science to Zhao Zhang, Ph.D., of UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas during Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans. These awards recognize groundbreaking research addressing critical cardiovascular health challenges with global implications.
Dr. Mahmoud's research focuses on aspirin prophylaxis for preeclampsia prevention in Nigeria, where maternal mortality rates are among the highest globally. Her mixed methods study identified barriers to implementing this evidence-based intervention, including poor guideline dissemination, limited provider and patient awareness, delayed prenatal care, and cost considerations. The research demonstrates that addressing these obstacles could significantly reduce maternal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria and other high-burden settings through a low-cost, proven intervention.
Dr. Zhang's work employed a forward genetic screen approach to identify HELZ2 as a central regulator of APOB mRNA stability, establishing a molecular link between hepatic steatosis and atherosclerosis. His research investigated how genetic factors influence apolipoprotein B (APOB), a key protein in lipid transport, and its relationship to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and arterial plaque buildup. The discovery of a rare dominant mutation implicating HELZ2 protein provides a potential therapeutic target for addressing both conditions simultaneously.
The Jack Sarver Prize awards were established through a gift to the American Heart Association honoring Jack Sarver, who died of heart disease in 1979 at age 58. The Sarver family's multi-generational struggle with heart disease motivated the creation of these prizes to support research that could "end the heritage of heart disease." Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, emphasized that both researchers' work aligns with the organization's mission to prevent cardiovascular disease and improve lives across generations.
These awards highlight the importance of both clinical implementation research and basic science discoveries in addressing cardiovascular health challenges. Dr. Mahmoud's work addresses immediate maternal health crises in resource-limited settings, while Dr. Zhang's research uncovers fundamental biological mechanisms that could lead to new therapeutic approaches. Established investigators may learn more about future award opportunities by visiting https://professional.heart.org/en/professional-membership-awards. The recognition of these researchers underscores the ongoing need for innovative approaches to cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment across diverse populations and health conditions.
