The American Heart Association has awarded $1 million Merit Awards to two prominent researchers investigating the complex links between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Ann Marie Schmidt from NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Dr. Elizabeth Selvin from Johns Hopkins University will spend the next five years conducting innovative studies aimed at understanding how these chronic conditions impact human health.
Schmidt's research will focus on white blood cells and a specific protein molecule called RAGE, which may explain how diabetes damages the body. Her team will examine diabetic and non-diabetic white blood cells to potentially develop new treatment therapies that could mitigate the systemic damage caused by diabetes.
Selvin's work will concentrate on improving cardiovascular health for diabetes patients, building upon her previous groundbreaking research on hemoglobin A1c diagnostics. She will investigate wearable continuous glucose monitors and their associations with cardiometabolic risks in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
The Merit Award, one of the most prestigious competitive research grants in cardiovascular science, supports scientists conducting novel research with high potential for rapid advancement. By funding these critical investigations, the American Heart Association continues its mission to understand and combat chronic diseases that significantly impact global health.
Both researchers emphasized the importance of their work in potentially reducing the long-term health complications associated with diabetes. Their studies could provide crucial insights into prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies, ultimately helping to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
