Jennifer S. Lawton, M.D., FAHA, a pioneering cardiac surgeon-scientist whose research has redefined approaches to protecting the heart and brain during cardiac surgery, will receive the 2026 Basic Research Prize from the American Heart Association at its Scientific Sessions 2026, to be held Nov. 6-9 in Chicago. The award, presented during the Presidential Session on Sunday, Nov. 8, recognizes her decades of translational research that have moved fundamental laboratory discoveries into first-in-human clinical trials and improved understanding of how to reduce organ injury during complex heart operations.
The significance of this recognition extends beyond a single career milestone. Dr. Lawton's work addresses one of the most persistent challenges in cardiac surgery: preventing damage to the heart and brain when blood flow is interrupted. 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. That research includes the first FDA-regulated, first-in-human Phase I Safety and Feasibility Trial of Cardioplegia with Diazoxide (CPG-DZX), a landmark step in translating basic science into a potential therapy for patients undergoing heart surgery.
Her investigations into neurologic injury during circulatory arrest have also advanced knowledge of protective strategies that are now utilized to reduce injury during cardiac surgery. More recently, her research has expanded into brain protection during hypothermic circulatory arrest while continuing to develop innovative therapies for patients undergoing complex cardiac operations. The implications are substantial: as cardiac surgery increasingly involves older and sicker patients, strategies that protect both the heart and brain could reduce complications, preserve cognitive function and improve long-term outcomes.
Manesh R. Patel, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association's 2026-2027 volunteer president, praised Dr. Lawton's contributions. "Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Lawton, whose groundbreaking research has advanced the understanding of myocardial protection and transformed the translation of basic cardiovascular science into therapies that improve patient care," Patel said. "She is an innovative scientist, accomplished surgeon and exceptional leader whose contributions have advanced cardiovascular research and inspire the next generation of physician-scientists."
Dr. Lawton's laboratory has received sustained funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association and the Thoracic Surgery Foundation. She previously served as the Richard B. Darnall Professor of Surgery and chief of the division of cardiac surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and is now faculty at the University of Maryland. She has authored more than 250 scientific manuscripts and has held numerous leadership positions within national surgical organizations, editorial boards and professional societies.
Beyond her research, Dr. Lawton has dedicated her career to mentoring future surgeon-scientists, training dozens of medical students, residents, fellows and postdoctoral researchers who now serve as academic leaders and cardiac surgeons worldwide. She has also held key volunteer roles with the American Heart Association, including chair of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia from 2017 to 2019 and chair of the AHA/ACC/SCAI Guideline Writing Committee for Coronary Artery Revascularization from 2019 to 2021.
"It is an incredible honor to receive this recognition from the American Heart Association, an organization that has supported numerous projects throughout my career and is a champion supporter of cardiovascular research across the spectrum," Dr. Lawton said. "I look forward to continuing my journey of scientific discovery, collaboration and improving outcomes for patients through research."
The prize underscores the critical role of basic and translational research in advancing cardiovascular care. For patients and clinicians, it signals that laboratory insights into ischemia-reperfusion injury and neuroprotection are progressing toward tangible clinical applications. For the research community, Dr. Lawton's career illustrates how sustained investment in basic science, combined with surgical expertise and mentorship, can yield innovations that address unmet needs in cardiac surgery. Additional resources, including multimedia, are available on the right column of the release link. For more news at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2026, follow the organization on X @HeartNews and #ScientificSessions26.
