The American Stroke Association will honor eleven scientists for exceptional achievements in stroke research and brain health during the International Stroke Conference 2026 in New Orleans from February 3-6. This recognition underscores the critical work being done to combat stroke, which remains a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The awards highlight both lifetime contributions and new research findings that could significantly impact future prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies.
Five researchers are being honored for their career-long dedication. Bruce Ovbiagele, M.D., of the University of California, San Francisco, will receive the Edgar J. Kenton III Lecture Award for his work on racial and ethnic stroke disparities. Pooja Khatri, M.D., of Yale University, earns the William M. Feinberg Award for Excellence in Clinical Stroke for her contributions to clinical stroke research. Raghu Vemuganti, Ph.D., from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, receives the Thomas Willis Lecture Award for his basic science research into stroke mechanisms. Kazunori Toyoda, M.D., Ph.D., of Japan's National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, is recognized with the Ralph L. Sacco Outstanding Stroke Research Mentor Award. Seemant Chaturvedi, M.D., from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, will be awarded the David G. Sherman Lecture Award for his work in stroke prevention.
Six additional scientists are being recognized for new research to be presented at the conference. Amar Dhand, M.D., D.Phil., of Brigham and Women's Hospital, receives the Stroke Rehabilitation Award for research on a machine learning algorithm to measure social interactions in stroke survivors. Soomin Jeong, Ph.D., from the University of Pennsylvania, earns the Stroke Basic Science Award for research on restoring the blood-brain barrier after stroke. Zhe Cheng, M.D., Ph.D., of Beijing Luhe Hospital, is the Robert G. Siekert New Investigator Award recipient for research on a cooling infusion technique for neuroprotection. Daniela Renedo, M.D., from Yale School of Medicine, receives the Mordecai Y.T. Globus New Investigator Award for research decoding the etiology of embolic stroke. Zhiyu (Roman) Yan, a Ph.D. student at Harvard, is awarded the Vascular Cognitive Impairment Award for research on proteomic signatures in cerebrovascular disease. Sheng Zhang, Ph.D., of Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, earns the Stroke Care in Emergency Medicine Award for research on prehospital blood pressure management.
The importance of this research is underscored by stroke statistics. According to the American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, stroke is now the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. The conference serves as a premier global platform for sharing findings that could lead to more effective treatments and reduced health disparities. The research being honored spans from basic molecular science to clinical applications and health policy, addressing stroke across the entire care continuum from prevention to rehabilitation.
These awards not only celebrate individual achievement but also signal key areas of progress in the field. Research into disparities, rehabilitation technology, neuroprotection, and emergency care reflects a multifaceted approach to reducing stroke's global burden. The conference program, including presentation times for award lectures, is available through the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2026 Online Program Planner. The recognition of both established leaders and emerging researchers highlights a robust pipeline of scientific inquiry aimed at improving outcomes for stroke patients worldwide.
