University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center

We are proud to share that Sarver Heart Center member and researcher in the Cellular and Molecular Medicine Department, Shanna Hamilton, PhD, has been awarded the AHA Transformational Project Award. Her project, “Defining the role of ER stress proteins ERO1alpha and PRDX4 in hereditary calcium-dependent arrhythmia,” will help advance new insights into the causes of inherited arrhythmias.

The Sarver Heart Center proudly announces that its Director, Dr. Hesham Sadek, has been awarded the American Heart Association’s Transformational Project Award to support his research titled "Novel Small Molecules that Enhance DNA Repair for Mitigating Cancer Therapy Induced Cardiac Toxicity."

This highly competitive national award provides $300,000 over three years to support innovative, high-impact projects that have the potential to significantly advance the field of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular research. Dr. Sadek’s project addresses a critical barrier in cardio-oncology by exploring novel therapeutic strategies to reduce the long-term cardiac damage caused by cancer treatments.

The AHA Transformational Project Award is reserved for investigators whose research builds on strong preliminary data and challenges current paradigms in meaningful ways. Dr. Sadek’s project introduces a novel approach to enhancing DNA repair in heart tissue—an innovation with potential to improve survivorship and quality of life for cancer patients at risk of treatment-related heart disease.

"We thank the American Heart Association for their continued support," said Sadek. "We are excited about this award because it will allow us to focus our studies on a new drug that we have discovered that can potentially protect the heart from the damaging effects of cancer therapies. If successful, this first in class drug could usher a new era in cardio-oncology.

The grant period begins July 1, 2025.

The AZEcho Summer Meeting is coming up soon, featuring SHC Members Dr. Hammershaimb and Dr. Janardhanan!

Thursday, June 19
5:30 – 7:30 PM
📍Tucson Medical Center – Saguaro Conference Room (3rd floor)

Join physicians, scientists, and echocardiography enthusiasts for an evening of expert-led education and clinical discussion with featured speakers Bryant Hammershaimb, MD, and Raj Janardhanan, MD, MRCP, FACC, FASE from Banner UMC Tucson.

Hybrid format — attend in person or virtually via TEAMS
🔗 Register now: azecho.org/upcoming-events

Exciting progress in heart failure research!
A research team helmed by Sarver Heart Center Associate Director Hossein Ardehali, MD, PhD, illuminates a potential path toward reversing a difficult-to-treat form of heart failure. This innovation aims to regenerate damaged heart muscle and improve outcomes for millions.

Learn more about this promising development: https://bit.ly/3Z4rTvc

Excited to welcome UCLA's Peipei Ping, PhD, for a special Cardiology Grand Rounds presentation on Tuesday, June 3rd!

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) affects about half of all heart failure patients — and it’s caused by a stiff, less elastic heart muscle.

Hossein Ardehali, MD PhD, associate director of the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center, led a multi-institutional study with researchers who peered inside the cells lining the blood vessels. They followed them on their journey from healthy cells to dysfunctional cells and identified what activates the disease state.

Along the way, they found a drug candidate that could thwart those cells’ journeys toward disease.

“We hope that this drug can be used in patients and reduce the incidence of HFpEF. I’m hoping we can turn it into clinical practice,” Dr. Ardehali said. “We are excited — this could potentially be a new treatment for HFpEF.”

More: https://bit.ly/4dGb3ZF

🚀 Kickstart Your Professional Journey with Us! 🚀 We're seeking motivated UArizona students for remote/hybrid roles in Education, Outreach, and Communications at Sarver Heart Center. Gain skills, training, and connections. Apply now on Handshake or via email! 📧

Dr. Sakthivel Sadayappan, Associate Director of the Sarver Heart Center, joined KOLD 13 News to discuss why life expectancy is falling in Arizona. From chronic disease to access gaps, he breaks down what’s behind the alarming trend—and what we can do about it.
👉 Watch the interview: https://www.kold.com/2025/05/01/13-fact-finders-why-is-arizonas-life-expectancy-dropping/

Congratulations to SHC member Dr. Steven Goldman, who won the excellence in mentorship award at yesterday's BIO5 event! Eli Lefkowitz, a researcher in the Goldman lab, won the excellence in undergraduate research award. Several other undergraduate and graduate student researchers from the lab were featured, including Allison Tulino, Eli Lefkowitz, Daniel Benson, Dierdre O'Donnell, Liz Zozobrado, and Jessie Riemenschneider.
Well done, all! We are proud to be training the next generation who will shape the future of cardiovascular medicine.

📢 Save the Date!
We're thrilled to bring the Myofilament Meeting to the University of Arizona for the first time!
📅 May 23–26, 2026 | 📍 Tucson, AZ

Whether you're a trainee, early career investigator, or seasoned researcher in muscle physiology and biophysics, this is the meeting to attend. This year, we're excited to introduce you to the meeting's new home in the scenic Sonoran Desert.

What you can expect:
✨ ECI Day
🧬 Poster sessions
🔬 Cutting-edge research
🌵 Southwest sunshine

🗂️ Registration info coming soon!
📲 Follow us to stay in the loop!

We are thrilled to celebrate Sarver Heart Center member, Dr. Jil Tardiff, who has been elected as a 2024 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)! 🎉👏

Dr. Tardiff’s research in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and inherited heart disease has helped advance our understanding of these complex conditions, bringing us closer to new treatments. As the Steven M. Gootter Endowed Chair for the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death, she continues to lead groundbreaking work that impacts both science and patient care.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Tardiff on this incredible honor! 🎊

🔗 Read more: https://news.arizona.edu/news/four-u-professors-named-aaas-fellows?publication=20250331&utm_campaign=University+of+Arizona+Sarver+Heart+Center&utm_content=We+are+thrilled+to+celebr&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

🚶‍♂️❤️ Join the Sarver Steppers for the American Heart Association Heart Walk! ❤️🚶‍♀️

We’re walking to raise awareness, promote heart health, and support life-saving cardiovascular research—and we want YOU with us! Whether you walk, donate, or cheer us on, every step makes a difference.

🗓 Date: Saturday, April 26th
📍 Location: Reid Park De Meester Pavilion
🔗 Join our team or donate today: https://www2.heart.org/site/TR/?team_id=897259&pg=team&fr_id=11393

Let’s step up for stronger hearts and healthier communities! 💪💙