Veteran surgeon to be honored by American Heart Association for groundbreaking research
Jennifer S. Lawton, MD, a veteran cardiothoracic surgeon, will receive the 2026 Basic Research Prize from the American Heart Association (AHA) for her work on protecting the heart and brain during cardiac surgery during the Scientific Sessions 2026 conference in Chicago.
Lawton is currently a part of the faculty at the University of Maryland. She previously spent time as the vice chair for faculty development, cardiac surgeon-in-charge and chief of cardiac surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is known for advancing what clinicians know about adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels and diazoxide in addition to researching the risk of neurologic injury during circulatory arrest. One achievement the AHA highlighted in its announcement is her work to define how activating KATP channels can help protect the heart from ischemic injury during heart procedures.
On top of her pioneering research, Lawton has also worked extensively to mentor trainees and authored or co-authored more than 250 scientific manuscripts over the course of her career. Lawton has also held multiple leadership positions and served on the editorial boards of multiple established medical journals, including the Annals of Thoracic Surgery and JAMA Cardiology.
“It is an incredible honor to receive this recognition from the AHA, an organization that has supported numerous projects throughout my career and is a champion supporter of cardiovascular research across the spectrum,” Lawton said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing my journey of scientific discovery, collaboration and improving outcomes for patients through research.”
“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,” added Manesh R. Patel, MD, the AHA’s 2026-2027 volunteer president and chief of cardiology at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. “She is an innovative scientist, accomplished surgeon and exceptional leader whose contributions have advanced cardiovascular research and inspire the next generation of physician-scientists.”
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 is scheduled for Nov. 6-9 in Chicago. Click here for additional details.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.