The American Heart Association (AHA) will honor Jennifer S. Lawton, M.D., FAHA, with its 2026 Basic Research Prize at the Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026, to be held Nov. 6–9 in Chicago. The award, presented during the Presidential Session on Sunday, Nov. 8, recognizes Dr. Lawton’s decades of pioneering translational research focused on protecting the heart and brain during cardiac surgery. Her work has fundamentally advanced the understanding of myocardial protection and neuroprotection, helping to reduce injury and improve outcomes for patients undergoing complex cardiac operations.
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, now serves on the faculty at the University of Maryland. She is internationally recognized for her laboratory’s discoveries related to adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels and the cardioprotective effects of diazoxide. These findings have uncovered novel mechanisms that reduce myocardial injury during ischemia and reperfusion, a critical concern in cardiac surgery. Her team conducted the first FDA-regulated, first-in-human Phase I Safety and Feasibility Trial of Cardioplegia with Diazoxide (CPG-DZX), a landmark step in translating basic science into clinical therapy. Her research on neurologic injury during circulatory arrest has also advanced protective strategies that are now utilized to reduce brain injury during surgery.
“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,” said Manesh R. Patel, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association's 2026-2027 volunteer president. “She is an innovative scientist, accomplished surgeon and exceptional leader whose contributions have advanced cardiovascular research and inspire the next generation of physician-scientists.”
The implications of this recognition extend beyond a single career. Dr. Lawton’s work addresses one of the most persistent challenges in cardiac surgery: minimizing damage to the heart and brain during operations that require stopping or diverting blood flow. By elucidating the mechanisms of KATP channel activation and demonstrating the safety of diazoxide-based cardioplegia, her research offers a potential new standard for protecting patients during surgery. This could lead to fewer complications, shorter recovery times, and better long-term outcomes for the millions of people worldwide who undergo cardiac procedures each year.
Her laboratory has received sustained funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and the Thoracic Surgery Foundation. 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,” said Dr. Lawton. “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 herself to mentoring future surgeon-scientists. She has trained dozens of medical students, residents, fellows, and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom now serve as academic leaders and cardiac surgeons worldwide. She has authored more than 250 scientific manuscripts and held numerous leadership roles within national surgical organizations and professional societies. Her volunteer leadership with the AHA includes serving as chair of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia from 2017 to 2019 and chairing the AHA/ACC/SCAI Guideline Writing Committee for Coronary Artery Revascularization from 2019 to 2021. She also chaired the Heart Association’s Basic Science Surgery Study Section from 2013 to 2015.
Dr. Lawton earned her bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College and her medical degree from Hahnemann University. She completed her general surgery residency and cardiovascular research fellowship at the Medical College of Virginia, followed by a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. She joined Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 2016 after 15 years on the faculty at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Her receipt of the 2026 Basic Research Prize highlights the vital role of translational research in advancing cardiovascular care and serves as a call to support the next generation of physician-scientists.
