February is American Heart Month
February is American Heart Month, the time to raise awareness about the leading cause of death across all genders, races, and ethnicities – heart disease.
Learn about some of the cardiac-related research being done at HHRI.
• Since 1982, Fred Apple, PhD, an internationally renowned expert in clinical toxicology and chemistry, and his staff have carried out more than 450 clinical studies, trials, and analytical evaluations focused on cardiac biomarkers. Read more
• Berman Center Medical Director, Anne Murray, MD, MSc, a Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on the Healthy Aging in the Senior Years (HATS) study that will measure cardiovascular and other risk factors for dementia in older Black adults in the Twin Cities. Read more
• Hennepin Healthcare Division Director for HIV Medicine and Infectious Diseases Jason Baker, MD, MS, leads the Program for Cardiometabolic Complications in HHRI’s Center for Infectious Disease Research (CeIDeR). The program’s goal is to “expand our understanding of cardiovascular injury and clinical risk associated with viral infection, with an emphasis on HIV and COVID-19.” Read more
• The Center for Chronic Disease Reduction and Equity Promotion Across Minnesota (C2DREAM) collaboration between the University of Minnesota, HHRI, and Mayo Clinic, seeks to reduce disparities in cardiovascular diseases and related chronic conditions experienced by BIPOC communities. HHRI Investigator Sandra Japuntich, PhD, LP, is leading the C2DREAM Smoking Cessation Outreach for Equity (SCORE) study, which “tests the effect of adding proactive outreach to BIPOC patients who smoke cigarettes to usual care for smoking (routine screening in primary care practices).” Read more
• Quitting smoking following acute coronary syndrome can significantly reduce mortality; however, a depressed mood may interfere with smoking cessation. The Post Acute Cardiac Event Smoking (PACES) Study led by Andrew Busch, PhD, “aims to help people who have just experienced a cardiac event to quit smoking and keep their mood up.” Read more