A pioneering researcher known for her work to protect the heart and brain during cardiac surgery will be recognised by the American Heart Association at its annual Scientific Sessions in November.
Jennifer S. Lawton, formerly the Richard B. Darnall Professor of Surgery and the chief of the division of cardiac surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and now a faculty member at the University of Maryland, will receive the 2026 Basic Research Prize from the American Heart Association during its Scientific Sessions 2026 to be held next month in Chicago.
The Association’s Scientific Sessions is a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science. Dr Lawton will receive the award during the Presidential Session.
Dr Lawton, who previously served as vice chair for faculty development, cardiac surgeon-in-charge and chief of the division of cardiac surgery at Johns Hopkins, is internationally recognised for her pioneering translational research focused on myocardial protection and neuroprotection during cardiac surgery.
Her laboratory has advanced the understanding of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels and the cardioprotective effects of diazoxide, helping uncover novel mechanisms that reduce myocardial injury during ischemia and reperfusion.
Her decades of successful translational research include the first FDA-regulated, first-in-human Phase I Safety and Feasibility Trial of Cardioplegia with Diazoxide (CPG-DZX).
Her research on neurologic injury during circulatory arrest has advanced knowledge of protective strategies used to reduce injury during cardiac surgery.
Among Dr Lawton’s most significant scientific contributions has been defining the mechanisms through which KATP channel activation protects the heart from ischemic injury during cardiac surgery.
Her laboratory has received sustained funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Heart Association and the Thoracic Surgery Foundation to investigate myocardial protection, neuroprotection during circulatory arrest and novel approaches to reducing cardiac injury.
More recently, her research has expanded into brain protection during hypothermic circulatory arrest while continuing to advance innovative therapies for patients undergoing complex cardiac operations.
Dr Lawton said: ‘It is an incredible honour to receive this recognition from the American Heart Association, an organisation that has supported numerous projects throughout my career and is a champion supporter of cardiovascular research across the spectrum. I look forward to continuing my journey of scientific discovery, collaboration and improving outcomes for patients through research.’
Beyond her research accomplishments, Dr Lawton has dedicated her career to mentoring future surgeon-scientists and has trained dozens of medical students, residents, fellows and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom now serve as academic leaders, cardiac surgeons and physician-scientists around the world.
