Recap from the 12th Annual CVRI Symposium – 2025
We were honored to host , as our distinguished keynote speaker. Dr. Ellinor is the Executive Director of the Heart and Vascular Institute at Mass General Brigham, as well as Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Demoulas Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias at Massachusetts General Hospital, Institute Member and Director of the Cardiovascular Research Initiative at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Acting Chief of Cardiology and Co-Director of the MGH Corrigan-Minehan Heart Center.
Additionally, the symposium featured ten invited speakers from the Texas Medical Center who covered a wide spectrum of topics addressing the CVRI’s pivotal themes such as congenital developmental heart disease, cardiovascular genetics, arrhythmias and channelopathies, heart failure and cardiomyopathy, adult and pediatric heart transplant, and aging. In addition, two faculty received the Dr. Mark L. Entman Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Education.
The symposium featured over 70 poster presentations by basic science and clinical trainees, as well as junior faculty, providing an important platform for emerging researchers to share their innovative work. The CVRI recognized excellence through the “Best Poster Awards,” honoring outstanding contributions in both basic science and clinical research. These awards were announced in categories by Dr. Lilei Zhang, Chair of the Symposium Program Committee.
Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Physiology
Xinchun Pi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research
Best Posters
Student Category (Non-Graduate) Category
Joshua A. Keefe, Ph.D.
Mentor: Xander Wehrens, M.D., Ph.D.
Poster title: “Atrial Fibroblast-Derived Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Promotes Atrial Macrophage Accumulation in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation”
Student Category (Graduate) Category Winner:
Dexter Robichaux
Mentor: Jason Karch, Ph.D.
Poster title: “ATAD3 is an Essential Component of them Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore”
Postdoctoral Research Trainee Winner:
Jose Alberto Navarro-Garcia, Ph.D.
Mentor: Xander Wehrens, M.D., Ph.D.
Poster title: “Oxidized LDL and LOX-1 Mediate Atrial Fibrillation Development in Chronic Kidney Disease”
Junior Faculty Category Winner:
Abhijnan Chattopadhyay, Ph.D.
Poster title: “Pathogenic Variants in ACTA2 that Activate Heat Shock Factor 1 Signaling and Cholesterol Biosynthesis in Smooth Muscle Cells Predispose to Premature Atherosclerosis”
Clinical Outcomes/Research Category Winner:
Sai Prasada Rao Manikonda
Mentor: Nandan Kumar Mondal, Ph.D.
Poster title: “Predicting Acute Ischemic Stroke in Heart Failure Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices: The Role of Elevated Plasma Homocysteine and High Mobility Group Box 1 Proteins”
Clinical Resident/Fellow Category Winner:
Co-first authors: Amrit Kannan M.D., and Meredith
Rae, M.D.
Mentor: Tam Doan, M.D. and Eyal Muscal, M.D.
Poster title: “The Added Value of Cardiac MRI in Pediatric Rheumatologic Disorders”
Recap from the 11th Annual CVRI Symposium – 2024
Our distinguished keynote lecturer, , Chair and Professor at Columbia University, delivered an outstanding lecture titled "Leaky Ryanodine Receptors Provide Clues for Treating Disorders of Heart, Muscle, and Brain." Dr. Marks' insights set the stage for insightful discussions and collaborations throughout the symposium.
Additionally, the symposium featured nine invited speakers from the Texas Medical Center who covered a wide spectrum of topics addressing the CVRI’s pivotal themes such as Arrhythmias and Channelopathies, Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy, Aortopathy and Valvular Heart Disease, Cardiac Regeneration and Stem Cells, and Congenital Developmental Heart Disease. In addition, two faculty received the Dr. Mark L. Entman Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Education.
Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Physiology
William Lagor, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Integrative Physiology
