Heart-Brain Protection Pioneer Jennifer S. Lawton to Receive 2026 American Heart Association Basic Research Prize

Jennifer S. Lawton, M.D., FAHA, a pioneering cardiovascular surgeon-scientist whose research has illuminated how to protect the heart and brain during cardiac surgery, will receive the 2026 Basic Research Prize from the American Heart Association. The award will be presented during the Association's Scientific Sessions 2026, to be held Nov. 6-9 in Chicago, with recognition at the Presidential Session on Sunday, Nov. 8. The prize underscores the critical importance of translating fundamental laboratory discoveries into therapies that directly benefit patients undergoing complex cardiac procedures.

Dr. Lawton, formerly the Richard B. Darnall Professor of Surgery and chief of the division of cardiac surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, now serves on the faculty at the University of Maryland. She is internationally recognized for her translational research focused on myocardial protection and neuroprotection during cardiac surgery. Her laboratory has advanced the understanding of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels and the cardioprotective effects of diazoxide, uncovering novel mechanisms that reduce myocardial injury during ischemia and reperfusion. This work matters because ischemia-reperfusion injury remains a major cause of complications after cardiac surgery, and identifying ways to mitigate it can lead to better recovery and survival.

Her decades of successful translational research include the first FDA-regulated, first-in-human Phase I Safety and Feasibility Trial of Cardioplegia with Diazoxide (CPG-DZX). This milestone is significant because it represents a direct bridge from basic science to clinical application, potentially offering surgeons a new tool to protect the heart during operations. Additionally, her research investigating neurologic injury during circulatory arrest has advanced knowledge of protective strategies utilized to reduce injury during cardiac surgery, addressing a devastating complication that can lead to stroke and cognitive decline.

Manesh R. Patel, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association's 2026-2027 volunteer president, praised Dr. Lawton's contributions. "Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Lawton, whose groundbreaking research has advanced the understanding of myocardial protection and transformed the translation of basic cardiovascular science into therapies that improve patient care," Patel said. He added that she is "an innovative scientist, accomplished surgeon and exceptional leader whose contributions have advanced cardiovascular research and inspire the next generation of physician-scientists." This recognition highlights the importance of sustained investment in basic research, which often takes years to yield clinical breakthroughs.

Among Dr. Lawton's most significant scientific contributions has been defining the mechanisms through which KATP channel activation protects the heart from ischemic injury during cardiac surgery. Her laboratory has received sustained funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association and the Thoracic Surgery Foundation to investigate myocardial protection, neuroprotection during circulatory arrest and novel approaches to reducing cardiac injury. More recently, her research has expanded into brain protection during hypothermic circulatory arrest while continuing to advance innovative therapies for patients undergoing complex cardiac operations. This expansion is crucial as the aging population undergoes more intricate heart surgeries, necessitating dual organ protection strategies.

Dr. Lawton said, "It is an incredible honor to receive this recognition from the American Heart Association, an organization that has supported numerous projects throughout my career and is a champion supporter of cardiovascular research across the spectrum. I look forward to continuing my journey of scientific discovery, collaboration and improving outcomes for patients through research." Her commitment extends beyond the laboratory: she has dedicated her career to mentoring future surgeon-scientists, training dozens of medical students, residents, fellows and postdoctoral researchers who now serve as academic leaders worldwide. She has authored more than 250 scientific manuscripts and held numerous leadership positions, including chairing the AHA/ACC/SCAI Guideline Writing Committee for Coronary Artery Revascularization from 2019 to 2021.

The implications of this award extend beyond individual achievement. It signals the American Heart Association's enduring commitment to basic research as the foundation for future clinical advances. For patients, it offers hope that ongoing investigations into heart and brain protection will lead to safer surgeries and improved quality of life. For the scientific community, Dr. Lawton's recognition serves as a call to prioritize translational work that bridges the lab and the operating room, ensuring that discoveries ultimately save lives.