Mentored Patient-Oriented Research for Preventing ASCVD Events

Project Summary/Abstract Dr, Mora is a cardiologist cross-trained in epidemiology who has devoted her career to patient-oriented research (POR) in cardiovascular prevention, focusing on the discovery and translational applications of lipid biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease risk, and developing innovative approaches and therapies for preventing cardiometabolic disease. Her POR research has impacted national and international guidelines for clinical practice, In the first K24 cycle, she has mentored more than fifteen preand postdoctoral trainees in POR projects related to lipids, statins, and cardiovascular risk. This has been highlighted in recent years by the achievements of her mentees in presenting their work nationally and internationally, The K24 renewal award will allow her to extend her successful mentoring program. The overall goals of this K24 award are to 1) grow and expand her POR program by providing the next-generation of cardiovascular investigators with opportunities for precision POR in prevention by incorporating technologic advances in high-throughput metabolomics with clinical and health record data as a strategy to improve cardiovascular outcomes; and 2) strengthen and build upon her mentoring program in global cardiovascular health by expanding her POR program to examine cardiometabolic risk factors contributing to premature cardiovascular events. Cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death globally, and > 70% of cases can be attributed to cardiometabolic risk factors. Patients with uncontrolled cardiometabolic risk factors are at high risk of suffering from premature and recurrent cardiovascular events. The candidate's ongoing POR projects, exceptional institutional resources, and cost-effective local and international collaborations provide a nurturing environment for the training and career development of junior investigators in POR cardiovascular research. The new research aims proposed in this award will examine a panel of targeted metabolomics with risk of cardiovascular disease from diverse patient populations to better understand how cardiometabolic risk factors could be targeted for precision preventative diagnostic and therapeutic targets. This research program will provide excellent POR opportunities for junior investigators and trainees to be mentored across the full spectrum of clinical, epidemiological, and molecular studies. Results from this mentored POR program will guide future efforts directed at cardiovascular screening, risk stratification, and potentially more targeted precision medicine interventions to improve cardiovascular health. Towards that end, this K24 award will facilitate the progress of Dr, Mora's mentees into the next generation of patient-oriented independent cardiovascular researchers.