Boston University School of Medicine Lands Major Federal Grant Renewal for Cardiovascular Training Program
The Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine has been awarded a five-year renewal of its T32 training grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). This marks the second renewal for the "Multidisciplinary Training Program in Cardiovascular Epidemiology," which has been active since its inception in 2016.
Program Leadership and Focus
The program is co-directed by Vanessa Xanthakis, PhD, FAHA, and Mathew Nayor, MD, MPH. It is designed to train postdoctoral scholars in cardiovascular epidemiology—the study of the distribution, causes, and prevention of cardiovascular diseases within populations.
"This program aims to train the next generation of scientists in translational epidemiology, bridging the gap between biological discovery and public health implementation."
Training Structure and Capacity
The program will admit five scholars every two years, offering four distinct research tracks to accommodate a variety of scientific interests:
- Translational Epidemiology & Biology
- Translational Epidemiology & Implementation
- Statistical Genetics & Genomics
- Bioinformatics & Computational Biology
Meet the Key Personnel
Vanessa Xanthakis, PhD, FAHA
Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of Research Training. A biostatistician by training, her research focuses on cardiac remodeling, subclinical disease, cardiovascular risk factors, and novel biomarkers. She also directs the FHS Pathway Program at Boston University.
Mathew Nayor, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine and heart failure cardiologist. His research investigates metabolic responses to exercise and dietary interventions, exercise physiology, and proteomic biomarkers of heart failure risk.
Why This Matters
This grant renewal ensures continued funding for a specialized training pipeline that equips early-career scientists with the skills to tackle major cardiovascular health challenges through data-driven, interdisciplinary research.