Two scientific researchers, Hortense Triniac, Ph.D., and Katy Walsh, Ph.D., have been selected to receive the 2025 Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships for Brain Health, each receiving a two-year, $150,000 award to support groundbreaking research in neurological science.
Triniac, a postdoctoral fellow at the Versiti Blood Research Institute, will investigate potential mechanisms to reduce stroke risk by examining protein interactions in liver cells. Her research focuses on how tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) might lower lipid accumulation in blood vessels and improve blood clot breakdown, potentially leading to new stroke prevention therapies.
Walsh, a postdoctoral researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, will study cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), a condition causing abnormal protein buildup in brain blood vessels. Her work will explore a rare genetic variant that may improve blood vessel function and protein waste removal, potentially developing novel therapeutic strategies for a condition currently lacking treatment options.
The scholarship program, established in memory of Dr. Ralph L. Sacco—the only neurologist to have served as president of both the American Academy of Neurology and the American Heart Association—aims to support early-career researchers and advance understanding of brain health.
These research projects represent critical steps in addressing cognitive decline, stroke prevention, and neurological disease management. By investigating fundamental mechanisms of brain health, Triniac and Walsh's work could potentially transform understanding of neurological conditions and develop innovative treatment approaches.
