Drs. Banerjee & Medzikovic receive 2024 American Heart Association (AHA) Career Development Award

Congratulations to Somanshu Banerjee, PHD and Lejla Medzikovic, PHD for receiving a 2024 American Heart Association (AHA) Career Development Award! 

Dr. Banerjee received the 2024 AHA Career Development Award (CDA) to study the role of Piezo1, as a key cardiac mechanotransducer, in mediating right ventricular failure secondary to pulmonary hypertension. Dr. Banerjee joined the Umar Lab as a postdoctoral researcher in 2020 where he studies the molecular mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension-induced right heart failure. During his time in the Umar Lab, he has published 7 papers and has been awarded the DAPM Seed Grant, AHA 3CPR Travel Grant Award in 2021, and ATS Abstract Scholarship Award in 2021.

Dr. Medzikovic studies whether the X-chromosome-coded gene Biglycan underlies sex differences observed in pulmonary hypertension. Dr. Medzikovic joined the Eghbali lab as a postdoctoral researcher in 2018 where she studies the molecular mechanisms behind cardiac dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. During her time in the Eghbali lab, she has published 14 papers and has been awarded the 2021 DAPM Seed Grant, the 2023 AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, as well as the 2023 UCLA Chancellor’s Award for Postdoctoral Research.