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 |