Jennifer S. Lawton, M.D., FAHA, a cardiac surgeon and translational researcher whose work has illuminated how the heart and brain can be shielded from injury during complex cardiac operations, will receive the 2026 Basic Research Prize from the American Heart Association. The award will be presented during the Association's Scientific Sessions 2026, scheduled for Nov. 6-9 in Chicago, with recognition taking place during the Presidential Session on Sunday, Nov. 8. The prize underscores the critical importance of basic science in driving clinical advances and highlights a career that has bridged laboratory discovery with surgical practice.
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 in Baltimore, is now on the faculty at the University of Maryland. She is internationally recognized for 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. That work led to the first FDA-regulated, first-in-human Phase I Safety and Feasibility Trial of Cardioplegia with Diazoxide (CPG-DZX), a significant step in translating basic science into a potential therapy for patients undergoing heart surgery.
The implications of Dr. Lawton's research extend beyond the laboratory. By defining the mechanisms through which KATP channel activation protects the heart from ischemic injury, her work offers a pathway to reduce complications during surgery, when the heart is intentionally stopped and restarted. Her investigations into neurologic injury during circulatory arrest have similarly advanced protective strategies used to reduce brain injury during cardiac surgery. These contributions matter because they address two of the most serious risks in cardiac operations—damage to the heart muscle and the brain—and could lead to safer procedures and better long-term outcomes for patients.
Manesh R. Patel, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association's 2026-2027 volunteer president, praised Dr. Lawton's achievements. "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 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. "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," Lawton said. "I look forward to continuing my journey of scientific discovery, collaboration and improving outcomes for patients through research."
Beyond her scientific contributions, Dr. Lawton has 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 roles 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. She has also held volunteer leadership roles with the Heart Association, including chairing the AHA/ACC/SCAI Guideline Writing Committee for Coronary Artery Revascularization from 2019 to 2021 and the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia from 2017 to 2019.
The recognition comes as the American Heart Association prepares for Scientific Sessions 2026, described as a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science. Dr. Lawton's award highlights how fundamental research into cellular mechanisms can ultimately inform surgical techniques and therapies, reinforcing the vital connection between bench science and patient care. For more news at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2026, follow the Association on X @HeartNews and #ScientificSessions26.
