Inaugural Sarver Prizes Honor Breakthrough Heart Disease Research

Two pioneering medical researchers, Dr. Zainab Mahmoud of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Dr. Zhao Zhang of UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, have been selected as the inaugural recipients of the prestigious Jack Sarver Prize awards. The American Heart Association will present these honors during its Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans, with Dr. Mahmoud receiving the Jack Sarver Prize in Clinical Science for her groundbreaking work on preeclampsia prevention in Nigeria, while Dr. Zhang earns the Jack Sarver Prize in Basic Science for his genetic research linking liver disease and cardiovascular risk. These awards, established through a generous gift to the American Heart Association in memory of Jack Sarver who died of heart disease at age 58, represent the family's mission to "end the heritage of heart disease" that has affected multiple generations.

Dr. Mahmoud's award-winning research focuses on aspirin prophylaxis for preeclampsia prevention in Nigeria, where maternal mortality rates are among the highest globally. Her mixed methods study identified critical barriers to implementing this evidence-based, low-cost intervention, including poor dissemination of guidelines, limited provider and patient awareness, delayed prenatal care, and cost concerns. By addressing these obstacles, Mahmoud's work demonstrates how simple interventions could significantly reduce maternal morbidity and mortality in high-burden settings like Nigeria. Meanwhile, Dr. Zhang's research employed a forward genetic screen approach that identified HELZ2 as a central regulator of APOB mRNA stability, revealing crucial connections between hepatic steatosis and atherosclerosis. His work in mouse models discovered a rare dominant mutation that positions HELZ2 protein as a potential therapeutic target for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and atherosclerosis, offering new pathways for cardiovascular risk reduction.

The significance of these awards extends beyond individual recognition, as both researchers represent the cutting edge of cardiovascular science that addresses global health challenges. Dr. Mahmoud, who previously received the Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Research Goes Red® Award, brings extensive international training and focuses on generating evidence to catalyze positive change in cardio-obstetric care. Dr. Zhang's innovative phenotype-first approach in genetics continues the legacy of his postdoctoral training under Dr. Bruce Beutler at UT Southwestern. The American Heart Association, through these Professional Membership Awards and other initiatives, continues to drive breakthroughs in science and policy while providing critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke worldwide.