Young Investigator Award Winners

SADS Foundation Courts K. Cleveland, Jr.

Young Investigator Awards in Cardiac Channelopathy Research

To encourage the next generation of researchers in SADS conditions, the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation is announcing the Annual SADS Foundation Courts K. Cleveland Jr. Young Investigator Awards in Cardiac Channelopathy Research.

As in past years, there will be a BASIC SCIENCE award and a TRANSLATIONAL/CLINICAL SCIENCE award given. Both awards will be administered by the Pediatric and Congenital EP Society (PACES), and will be presented at the annual PACES evening meeting at the Heart Rhythm Society Scientific Sessions.

2025 Young Investigator Award Winners

Dr. Peter Aziz, PACES Research Chair, presented SADS 2025 YIAs.

 

2025 Basic Science

“Phenotypic Rescue of a Genetic Disease: GJA1-20k Rescues Cellular Pathophysiology and Cardiac Function in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy” –Mario Maalouf, MD

Sponsor: Robin M. Shaw, MD, PhD (not pictured) University of Utah, Salt Lake City

2025 Clinical/Translational Science

“Genotype-specific Digital Twins for Accurate Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation Targeting in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy”Yingnan “Nancy” Zhang

Sponsor-Natalia Trayanova, PhD, Johns Hopkins University

 

Past Winners

Year Young Investigator Awardee Category Sponsor
2025

Mario Maalouf, MD

Basic Science  Robin M. Shaw, MD, PhD University of Utah, Salt Lake City 
2025

Yingnan “Nancy” Zhang

Clinical/Translational

Natalia Trayanova, PhD Johns Hopkins University

2024 Chantal van Opbergen, PhD Basic Science Mario Delmar, MD, PhD & Marina Cerrone, MD of New York University School of Medicine
2024 Sahej Bains Clinical/Translational Michael Ackerman, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic
2023 David Y Chiang, MD, PhD Basic Science Calum MacRae, MD, PhD    Brigham and Women’s Hospital
2023 Megan Lancaster, MD, PhD Clinical/Translational Dan Roden, MD Vanderbilt University Medical Center
2022 Marta Perez Hernandez Basic Science Mario Delmar, MD, PhD, NYU Langone
2022 Leonie Kurzlechner Clinical/Translational Andrew Landstrom, MD, PhD, Duke University
2021 Steven Dotzler Basic Science Michael Ackerman, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic
2021 Puck Peltenburg Clinical/Translational Arthur Wilde, MD, PhD, Amsterdam MC, The Netherlands
2020 Aravind R Gade, PhD Basic Science Geoffrey Pitt, MD, PhD, Cornell Weill
2020 Yukiko Asaki, MD Clinical/Translational Susan Etheridge, MD, University of Utah
2019 Joon-Chul Kim Basic Science Mario Delmar, MD, PhD, NYU Langone
2019 Krystien Lieve Clinical/Translational Arthur Wilde, MD, PhD, Amsterdam MC, The Netherlands
2018 Christiaan Veernan, MD Basic Science Connie Bezzina, PhD, Amsterdam MC
2018 Julia Cadrin-Tourigny, MD Clinical/Translational Hugh Calkins, MD, Johns Hopkins
2017 Najim Lahrouchi, MD Clinical/Translational Connie Bezzina, PhD, Amsterdam MC
2017 Daniel Matasic, BS Basic Science Barry London, MD, PhD, University of Iowa
2016 Worawin Limpitkul Basic Science Gordon Tomaselli, MD, Johns Hopkins
2016 Bradley Clark, MD Clinical/Translational Charles Berul, MD, Children’s National Health System
2015 Helene Altmann Basic Science Michael Ackerman, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic
2015 Thomas Roston, MD Clinical/Translational Shubhayan Sanatani, MD, University of British Columbia
2014 Nicole J. Boczek, BA Basic Science Michael Ackerman, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic
2014 Jamie Kapplinger, BA Clinical/Translational Michael Ackerman, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic
2013 David Auerbach, Ph.D Basic Science Lori Isam, MD, PhD; University of Michigan
2013 Christian van der Werf, MD, PhD Clinical/Translational Arthur Wilde, MD, PhD, Amsterdam MC, The Netherlands
2012 Nicole J. Boczek, BA Basic Science Michael Ackerman, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic
2012 Michela Faggioni, PhD Clinical/Translational Björn Knollman, MD, Vanderbilt University
2011 Peter Aziz, MD Clinical/Translational Maully Shah, MBBS, Children’s Healthcare of Philadelphia
2011 Ahmad Amin, M.D., Ph.D Basic Science Arthur Wilde, MD, Amsterdam MC, The Netherlands
2010 Edward Glasscock, PhD Clinical/Translational Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
2010 Suraj Kapa, M.D. Basic Science Michael Ackerman, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic
2009 Stacy A. S. Killen, M.D. N/A Alfred George, Jr., MD, Vanderbilt University
2008 Jeffrey J. Kim, M.D. N/A Matteo Vatta, MD, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston