Isaac Pence, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Gaurav Sharma, Ph.D., M.B.A., Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, were among 33 investigators selected to receive American Heart Association (AHA) Second Century Early Faculty Independence Awards, which provide $300,000 over three years for research focused on critical, emerging priorities of the next century. The grants support early-career investigators and are part of the AHA’s $20 million Second Century of Science Initiative in celebration of the nonprofit’s 100th anniversary in 2024.

In addition, two UT Southwestern fellowship programs – Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiology – received Second Century travel awards.

CKD and cardiovascular disease

Dr. Pence’s research focuses on quantifying compositional dynamics of serum biomarkers of vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease (CKD).

“I am honored to have been selected,” said Dr. Pence, who has secondary appointments in Internal Medicine and the Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research. “This support will enable my lab to continue to grow and tackle significant health care challenges with cutting-edge technological approaches.”

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for CKD patients. The kidneys play an important role in balancing minerals – such as calcium and phosphate – in the body. When the kidney is damaged and cannot control mineral levels, minerals can build up in soft tissues like blood vessels, which can cause them to stiffen and ultimately strain the heart and further damage the kidneys.

“Small particles in the blood that are made of minerals, fats, and proteins have been linked to mineral buildup in CKD patients. Unfortunately, not much is known about how these particles cause minerals to accumulate in the blood vessels or if the particle makeup affects how the disease changes over time,” he said. 

Dr. Pence is creating a new tool to characterize and quantify these particles in a blood sample to predict if someone is at risk for mineral buildup. Based on a system he developed to investigate nanoparticles and extracellular vesicles, the tool uses light to study the chemical makeup of a blood sample by measuring the different amounts and colors of light that are scattered. The Pence Lab will use the tool to compare particles from healthy people and those from people with kidney disease as well as measure changes in particle makeup after treatments that change the mineral balance in the blood.

 “This tool will allow us to better understand the causes and markers of vascular calcification and help us to offer better care for people with CKD so that they may live longer, healthier, and more comfortable lives,” Dr. Pence said.

Diagnostic metabolic imaging of viable myocardium

Dr. Sharma’s research addresses gaps in health care and diagnostics by evaluating the prognostic value of a novel metabolic imaging method for clinical myocardial viability.

“I am profoundly grateful and humbled to receive this esteemed award,” said Dr. Sharma, who has a secondary appointment in the Advanced Imaging Research Center. “It serves as a testament to the unwavering dedication and innovative spirit of my laboratory, as we strive ceaselessly to make advancements in metabolic assessment to help improve patient outcomes.”

At the forefront of his research lies a mission to understand intermediary metabolism in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The diagnostic hyperpolarized carbon-13 (HP-¹³C) metabolic imaging method from this AHA-funded study may one day help physicians with patient selection prior to bypass surgery, particularly those afflicted by advanced coronary artery disease.

Conventional cardiac imaging techniques often fall short in effectively identifying optimal candidates for this procedure. To overcome this challenge, the Sharma Lab is utilizing the power of HP-¹³C metabolic imaging, an innovative imaging modality capable of detecting myocardial cells that are alive after injury.

Unlike conventional cardiac imaging modalities that often rely on ionizing radiation, such as the current gold standard fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET), the HP-¹³C noninvasive imaging approach provides insights into the function of the heart without exposing the patient to harmful radiation, Dr. Sharma said.

“HP-¹³C metabolic imaging works by detecting the presence of two simple molecules – bicarbonate and lactate – that are produced by healthy myocardial metabolism. By measuring the levels of bicarbonate and lactate, the imaging method provides crucial information about the heart’s metabolic function and the presence of abnormal heart tissue,” he explained. “This can help physicians better understand the extent of damage and determine if a patient is a suitable candidate for coronary artery bypass surgery.”

Clinical fellows travel awards

Additionally, two UT Southwestern programs were among 59 accredited cardiology and neurology fellowship programs honored with AHA Second Century Clinical Fellow Research Education Program grants to support training and mentoring opportunities. UT Southwestern’s Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program received $42,000 and its Cardiology Fellowship Program received $36,000.

Both programs will use the grants to enable fellows to attend the AHA Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia in November – one of the largest conferences in academic cardiology.