CVRI FY25 Pilot Awardees
We are thrilled to annouce the recipients of the CVRI Pilot Award for the 2024-2025 year. Each team will receive $25,000 in unrestircted funding. We received 12 applications this year and were able to select 4 for funding.
Please join us in congratulating our awardees! We thank everyone who applied to this years 2024-2025 CVRI Pilot Awards and encourge you all to apply next year.
Dr. Satardu Lahiri and Dr. Pradip Kumar Saha
Title: Role of PH2 in stabilizing cardiac SR-mitochondria contacts in cardiomyopathy.
Dr. David Durgan and Dr. Mirjana Maletic-Savatic
Title: Deciphering brain-gut signaling in obstructive sleep apnea-induced hypertension.
Dr. Sara Stephens and Dr. Cameron Dezfulian
Title: Population-Based Predictive Models of Pediatric Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.
Dr. Andrew Yee and Dr. Miguel Cruz
Title: Interplay between variants and vimetin on von Willebrand factor adhesivity.
Team Led by Mihail Chelu, M.D., Ph.D. Awarded $31M for Large Study on Conduction System Pacing for Resynchronization Therapy in Patients with Heart Failure
A research team led by Dr. Mihail Chelu (Baylor College of Medicine), Dr. Kenneth A. Ellenbogen (Virginia Commonwealth), and Dr. Richard Holubkov (University of Utah) has been awarded $31M by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) for a large study on conduction system pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with heart failure and conduction system disease. The study will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of biventricular paticing or conduction system pacing, both of which are strategies to accomplish cardiac resynchronization therapy. The study will involve 2,136 patients and 55 enrolling sites in the United States and Canada.
Chelu and Ellenbogen’s study was selected for funding through a PCORI initiative to support large-scale, high-impact comparative effectiveness research trials in a multiphase format allowing for testing and refinement of the study approach. The study will involve an initial feasibility phase to maximize the likelihood of full trial success. The study was selected through a highly competitive review process in which patients, caregivers, and other stakeholders joined scientists to evaluate the proposals. Learn more about the study.
PCORI is an independent, nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers, and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed healthcare decisions. View information about PCORI’s funding.
Latest CVRI News
- Dr. Biykem Bozkurt named fellow in the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program.
- Several CVRI members, including Dr. Xander Wehrens, were recognized as top educational leaders at Faculty Awards Day.
- CVRI members Richard Gibbs, Ph.D. and Christie Ballantyne, M.D. receive the Common Spirit Physician Enterprise Academic Vision Award in Academic Excellence Out of 26 submissions, their project HeartCare was selected.
- Dr. Na Li is a 2023 honoree for the BCM Women of Excellence Award.
- Dr. Lilei Zhang, assistant professor of molecular and human genetics, received the Ron Konopka Memorial Junior Faculty Award from the Texas Society of Circadian Biology and Medicine. The award was presented at annual meeting of the society in December 2022.
- Baylor’s Center for Cardiometabolic Disease Prevention strives to reverse the alarming rise of cardiovascular disease. View article.
- Dr. Biykem Bozkurt named fellow in the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program.
- Several CVRI members, including Dr. Xander Wehrens, were recognized as top educational leaders at Faculty Awards Day.
- CVRI members Richard Gibbs, Ph.D. and Christie Ballantyne, M.D. receive the Common Spirit Physician Enterprise Academic Vision Award in Academic Excellence Out of 26 submissions, their project HeartCare was selected.
- Xander Wehrens, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute, and professor of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics has been inducted into the Association of American Physicians.
CVRI News Archive
2022
- CVRI Ninth Annual Symposium was held April 6, 2022. View event recap.
- CVRI associate director featured in Circulation, "On the Shoulders of Witnesses: A Conversation With Biykem Bozkurt, M.D., Ph.D."
- Dr. Christie Ballantyne, professor and chief, Cardiology, was featured in BCM News for an article titled, "The good, the bad and the ugly of heart disease risk factors."
- Dr. Glenn Levine, professor, Cardiology, and Dr. Hamid Afshar, associate professor, Cardiology were featured in VA Houston for an article titled, "New Heart Failure Treatment Improves Veteran Quality of Life."
2021
- CVRI members, Dr. Parag Jain, assistant professor of pediatrics-critical care, and Dr. Craig Rusin, associate professor of pediatrics-cardiology, were awarded $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation for their work surround the "e-tattoo".
- Dr. Zheng Sun receives the prestigious Michael E. DeBakey Excellence in Research Award.
- Dr. James Martin's lab is featured in the BCM From the Labs Blog.
- Dr. Joseph Mills elected vice president of the Society for Vascular Surgery for 2021-2022.
- Dr. Biykem Bozkurt has been named the next editor-in-chief of JACC: Heart Failure.
- Dr. Zheng Sun receives the prestigious Michael E. DeBakey Excellence in Research Award.
- Dr. Salim Virani received the Distinguished National Lipid Association President's Service Award.
- CVRI members, Dr. Parag Jain, assistant professor of pediatrics-critical care, and Dr. Craig Rusin, associate professor of pediatrics-cardiology, were awarded $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation for their work surround the "e-tattoo".
- Dr. Robia G. Pautler announced as an ISMRM Fellow.
- Dr. Scott LeMaire elected Secretary of the Thoracic Surgery Foundation.
- Several CVRI Members win prestigious faculty awards.
- 2021 CVRI Symposium
- Dhruv Mahtta, DO, MBA publishes one of the largest studies to date in JAMA Cardiology.
- Dr. James F. Martin awarded one of the first research awards from the funding initiative between the American Heart. Association and Enduring Hearts. Learn more.
- CVRI members lead research team that is participating in the Somatic Cell Genome Editing Consortium.
- Dr. Biykem Bozkurt updates American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association heart failure data standards.
- ABP Names Dr. Keila Lopez 2021 Paul V. Miles Fellow
- Dr. Salim Virani interviewed by Cath Lab Digest to talk about a study related to gender disparities in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.
- Dr. Christie Ballantyne was an invited chair and panelist at the Cardiometabolic Health Congress Spring 2021 meeting held April 27. He was chair for Session IV: Dyslipidemia / Atherosclerosis / Thrombosis and a panelist during the Challenging Cases & Expert Panel Discussion and Q&A.
- Dr. Salim Virani presented at the NASA’s Journey to Wellness Webinar National Series with the presentation titled, “COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Disease: What Can We Do Now to Prevent Long-Term Sequelae on Cardiometabolic Health?”
- Drs. Mark L. Entman and Katarzyna A. Cieslik awarded a grant supplement for their project titled, “Glycine and N-acetyl cysteine supplemented diet improves inflammatory-based fibrosis in the aging heart.”
- Dr. Biykem Bozkurt updates American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association heart failure data standards.
- BP Names Dr. Keila Lopez 2021 Paul V. Miles Fellow
2020
- Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology recognizes Dr. Wolfgang Winkelmayer's article as a top paper
- Treatment shows reduction in heart failure after myocardial infarction
- Bone hormone, new treatment for heart rhythm disorder?
- Baylor genomics teams partner to provide COVID-19 testing for Houston area
- Decreased levels of a protein kinase leads to atrial fibrillation
- Human Genome Sequencing Center acquires new sequencer
- HeartCare study tests genetic risk of cardiovascular disease
- Baylor researchers receive nearly $2.7 million in CPRIT grants
- Baylor leads collaborative effort to recruit surgeon-scientists
- Dr. Mary Dickinson named Dean of Research
- Baylor researchers receive nearly $2.7 million in CPRIT grants
- HeartCare study tests genetic risk of cardiovascular disease
- Human Genome Sequencing Center acquires new sequencer
- Decreased levels of a protein kinase leads to atrial fibrillation
- Baylor genomics teams partner to provide COVID-19 testing for Houston area
- Novel mechanism connects SPEG, RyR2 and atrial fibrillation
- Baylor receives NIH funding for center to model rare genetic diseases
