Jennifer S. Lawton, M.D., FAHA, will receive the 2026 Basic Research Prize from the American Heart Association (AHA) during its Scientific Sessions 2026, to be held Nov. 6-9, 2026, in Chicago. The award recognizes her pioneering translational research focused on protecting the heart and brain during cardiac surgery. This matters because her work has advanced the understanding of how to reduce injury during ischemia and reperfusion, potentially leading to better outcomes for patients undergoing complex cardiac operations.
Dr. Lawton, formerly the Richard B. Darnall Professor of Surgery and chief of the division of cardiac surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, is now faculty at the University of Maryland. Her laboratory has advanced the understanding of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels and the cardioprotective effects of diazoxide, uncovering novel mechanisms that reduce myocardial injury. Her research includes the first FDA-regulated, first-in-human Phase I Safety and Feasibility Trial of Cardioplegia with Diazoxide (CPG-DZX). Additionally, her investigations into neurologic injury during circulatory arrest have advanced protective strategies used to reduce injury during cardiac surgery. These contributions are critical because they translate basic science into therapies that can directly improve patient care.
Manesh R. Patel, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association's 2026-2027 volunteer president, praised Dr. Lawton, saying, “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. She is an innovative scientist, accomplished surgeon and exceptional leader whose contributions have advanced cardiovascular research and inspire the next generation of physician-scientists.” This recognition underscores the importance of her work in bridging laboratory discoveries and clinical practice.
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. This expansion is vital as it addresses the dual challenges of protecting both heart and brain during surgeries that involve circulatory arrest.
Dr. Lawton has also dedicated her career to mentoring future surgeon-scientists, training dozens of medical students, residents, fellows and postdoctoral researchers. She has authored more than 250 scientific manuscripts and held numerous leadership positions within national surgical organizations, editorial boards and professional societies. She served as deputy editor for the Annals of Thoracic Surgery and on the editorial board of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, JAMA Cardiology and the European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Her mentorship ensures the continuation of research that will benefit future patients.
In addition to her clinical and research leadership, Dr. Lawton has held numerous volunteer leadership roles with the Heart Association, including serving as vice chair of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia from 2015 to 2017 and as chair from 2017 to 2019. She chaired the AHA/ACC/SCAI Guideline Writing Committee for Coronary Artery Revascularization from 2019 to 2021, and she also chaired the Heart Association's Basic Science Surgery Study Section from 2013 to 2015. These roles demonstrate her commitment to advancing cardiovascular science and shaping clinical guidelines.
Dr. Lawton earned her bachelor's degree from Allegheny College and her medical degree from Hahnemann University. She completed her general surgery residency and cardiovascular research fellowship at the Medical College of Virginia, followed by a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. She joined Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 2016 after serving on the faculty at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis for 15 years. Her extensive training and experience underscore her expertise in the field.
The implications of this award extend beyond individual recognition. Dr. Lawton's research has the potential to transform cardiac surgery by reducing complications and improving recovery for patients. As the AHA continues to support groundbreaking research, her work exemplifies how basic science can lead to tangible clinical benefits. For more news at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews, #ScientificSessions26.
