Inaugural Jack Sarver Prizes Awarded to Researchers Tackling Maternal Mortality and Cardiovascular Disease

The American Heart Association will present the inaugural Jack Sarver Prize in Clinical Science to Dr. Zainab Mahmoud of Washington University School of Medicine and the Jack Sarver Prize in Basic Science to Dr. Zhao Zhang of UT Southwestern Medical Center during Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans. These awards recognize groundbreaking research that addresses fundamental challenges in cardiovascular health and disease prevention across different populations and biological mechanisms.

Dr. Mahmoud's research focuses on a critical public health crisis in Nigeria, where maternal mortality rates are among the highest globally. Her study, "Aspirin Prophylaxis for Preeclampsia Prevention in Nigeria: A Mixed Methods Study," addresses preeclampsia as a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths. The research identified that aspirin, an evidence-based, low-cost intervention, could significantly reduce maternal morbidity and mortality when barriers including poor guideline dissemination, limited provider and patient awareness, delayed prenatal care, and cost are addressed. This work has immediate implications for improving maternal health outcomes in high-burden settings worldwide.

Dr. Zhang's research takes a genetic approach to understanding cardiovascular risk factors. His study, "Forward Genetic Screen Identifies HELZ2 as a Central Regulator of APOB mRNA Stability Linking Hepatic Steatosis and Atherosclerosis," investigates how genetic factors influence apolipoprotein B (APOB), a key protein in lipid transport. The research connects metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the liver, with atherosclerosis through the discovery of a rare dominant mutation involving the HELZ2 protein. Using mouse models, Zhang's work identifies HELZ2 as a potential therapeutic target for addressing both liver disease and cardiovascular risk simultaneously.

The significance of these awards extends beyond individual recognition. The Jack Sarver Prizes 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 awards to support research that could "end the heritage of heart disease." As Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association noted, both researchers' work embodies the organization's mission to be a relentless force for longer, healthier lives by preventing cardiovascular disease across generations.

For the scientific community and healthcare providers, these research findings offer practical applications and new therapeutic directions. Mahmoud's work provides a roadmap for implementing simple, cost-effective interventions in resource-limited settings, potentially saving thousands of maternal lives annually. Zhang's discovery opens new avenues for drug development targeting the genetic mechanisms underlying both liver disease and atherosclerosis, two conditions that often coexist and compound cardiovascular risk. Established investigators interested in future recognition can learn more at https://professional.heart.org/en/professional-education-and-resources/awards-and-lectureships.

The timing of these awards during the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025, a premier global exchange of cardiovascular science advancements, underscores their importance to the medical community. Both research projects address critical gaps in cardiovascular disease prevention—one through implementation science in global health settings and the other through fundamental genetic discovery. Together, they represent complementary approaches to reducing the global burden of cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death worldwide, affecting individuals, families, and healthcare systems across all demographics and geographic regions.