AHA Scientific Sessions: UCLA Health experts share new advances in heart failure, cardio-oncology, and arrhythmia care
UCLA cardiologists present the latest cardiovascular innovations at annual meeting November 7-10
LOS ANGELES — UCLA Health experts will present new research and lead key discussions at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2025, November 7–10 in New Orleans. Their work spans heart failure, arrhythmia management, cardio-oncology, imaging, prevention, and translational science, reflecting UCLA Health’s broad impact in advancing cardiovascular care.
“The AHA meetings are where innovation meets collaboration,” said Dr. Priscilla Hsue, chief of the division of cardiology at UCLA Health. “Our faculty are shaping the conversations that define the next generation of cardiovascular care — from groundbreaking science to practical strategies that make a difference for patients.”
Advancing heart failure research and care delivery
UCLA’s heart failure experts will present findings that redefine how clinicians diagnose, manage, and support patients with advanced heart disease:
- Dr. Gregg Fonarow – Studies on cardiac rehabilitation after surgical aortic valve replacement, GLP-1 analogues, and hospital-at-home models for worsening heart failure.
- Dr. Zoee D’Costa – Transforming Heart Failure Care with EHR-Based Alerts: Accurate Diagnosis and Improved GDMT Uptake.
- Dr. Tara Shahrvini – Effects of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Body Composition Changes in Patients Receiving GLP-1 Receptor Agonists.
- Dr. Mohammad Keykhaei – Integrated Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals Suppressed Mitochondrial Fuel Metabolism in HFpEF Myocardium.
- Dr. Matt Durstenfeld – Moderating sessions on heart failure prediction, AI imaging, and cardiovascular health in people with HIV.
Innovations in arrhythmia management
New insights into atrial fibrillation, stroke prevention, and arrhythmia risk prediction will be featured in multiple sessions.
- Dr. Janet Han – Moderator for sessions on atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention, including digital posters on ablation outcomes and medication monitoring.
- Dr. Olu Ajijola – Presenter for Inflammatory Mediators of Inter-organ Cross-talk during Cardiovascular Disease and moderator for Inflammation as a Driver of Arrhythmic Risk: Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Implications.
Pulmonary vascular disease
- Drs. Mayam Emamimeybodi and Mohammad Hatamnejad, with Dr. Srinivasa Reddy, will present moderated digital posters on microbiome and lipid metabolism pathways in pulmonary hypertension.
Imaging and AI diagnostics
From molecular imaging to machine learning, UCLA researchers are advancing diagnostic precision and risk detection.
- Dr. Rene Packard – Molecular imaging biomarkers in cardio-oncology and myocardial perfusion.
- Dr. Srikanth Krishnan – Coronary calcium findings in Kenyan adults with and without HIV.
- Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz – Co-author on research using large language models to identify hidden cardiovascular risk factors in EHR data.
- Dr. Jasmeet Dhaliwal – 18F-FDG PET/CT Evaluation of Incidental Extracardiac CT Findings on 82Rb-Chloride PET Myocardial Perfusion Imaging.
Women’s cardiovascular health
- Dr. Priscilla Hsue – Moderator and panelist for sessions on cardiovascular aging, as well as the Women in Cardiology Luncheon focused on leadership and resilience.
Cardio-oncology and emerging therapies
UCLA’s cardio-oncology team continues to lead in understanding and mitigating cardiovascular side effects of cancer therapy.
- Dr. Ashley Stein-Merlob – Immune checkpoint inhibitor–related myocarditis and arrhythmia.
- Dr. Eric Yang – Imaging and immunotherapy in heart transplant patients.
- Dr. Raina Jain – A Rare Case of Testicular Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma with Cardiac Involvement.
- Dr. Francisco Xavi Elisarraras – A Rare Case of Purulent Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Pericarditis Presenting with Septic Shock.
- Dr. Kinan Bachour – Purulent Pericarditis in Austrian Syndrome: A Rare Case with Tamponade Physiology.
Clinical prevention and risk stratification
Research from UCLA’s preventive cardiology experts emphasizes personalized risk assessment and health equity.
- Dr. Karol Watson – Speaker and moderator for late-breaking science on cardiometabolic therapeutics, gene editing, and diversity in cardiovascular research.
- Dr. Jeremy Moore – Moderator on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy management across the lifespan.
- Dr. Boback Ziaeian – Social determinants and cardiovascular outcomes in heart failure.
- Dr. Mai Nguyen – Combined Associations of GLP-1 Medications and Healthy Lifestyle with Cardiovascular Outcomes Among Individuals with Diabetes: The Million Veteran Program.
- Dr. Jui Malwankar – Comparison of Risk Factors in South Asian and White Patients Before and After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.
- Dr. Harveen Sekhon – Utilizing Telemedicine to Promote Equitable Care for Higher Risk Orthotopic Heart Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Analysis.
Translational and basic science
UCLA’s basic science investigators are uncovering new molecular pathways and therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease.
- Dr. Thomas Vondriska – GLP-1 receptor agonists improving hepatic metabolism in HFpEF.
- Drs. Christopher Lee and Jessica Wang – Cardiac remodeling and mechanobiology under stress.
- Dr. Holly Middlekauff – Cardiovascular effects of cannabis use in young adults.
Recognition
- Dr. Radi Zinoviev – Honored on the AHA TARGET: AS Honor Roll for excellence in aortic valve outcomes.
