
Section Highlights
- Section faculty published 194 peer-reviewed articles, including 50 in top-tier journals such as NEJM, Lancet, Nature Medicine, Cell, and JACC, showcasing strength in basic, translational, and clinical cardiovascular research.
- The Center for Cardiometabolic Disease Prevention conducted late-breaking clinical trials with simultaneous publication in the New England Journal of Medicine, advancing therapies in lipid disorders and cardiometabolic disease.
- Dr. Miguel A. Cruz received a competitive NHLBI T32 renewal and a DOD grant, while Dr. Na Li and Dr. Xinchun Pi secured new or renewed NIH R01 funding for projects in cardiac arrhythmias and metabolic signaling.
- The Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis Clinic, led by Drs. Christie Ballantyne and Ron Hoogeveen, is the only program in Houston offering comprehensive genetic testing, including polygenic risk scores, for cardiometabolic conditions.
- Faculty received national recognition and leadership appointments, including Dr. Christie Ballantyne as President of the National Lipid Association and Dr. Na Li as Chair of the Heart Rhythm Society Research Fellowship Committee.
- The Section actively supports trainee development through conferences, research opportunities, and mentorship. Fellows and students earned national awards and fellowships, including recognition from the American Diabetes Association and ACC.
Chief's Message
View a message from the Section of Cardiovascular Research Chief, Christie M. Ballantyne, M.D.
Education
We offer educational opportunities for medical students, predoctoral and postdoctoral students, and fellows, in both clinical and basic research areas.
Research
Our section conducts basic science, clinical, and translational research focusing on mechanisms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease and other cardiometabolic diseases.
Healthcare
We offer-state-of-the-art specialized care in the Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis Clinic, part of the Center for Cardiometabolic Disease Prevention.