2026 SVS Foundation Award Winners

The 2026 SVS Foundation award recipients are: 

Clinical Research Seed Grants

Brianna M. Krafcik, MD 
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Project title: Enhancing Shared Decision-Making for Patients with Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis

Gregory Westin, MD, MAS
Indiana University School of Medicine
Project title: Combined Heat and Compression Therapy for Neuroischemic Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Pilot Study

 

James S. T. Yao Resident Research Award

Michael Fassler, MD
General Surgery Resident and Research Fellow
University of Florida
Abstract title: Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibition attenuates abdominal aortic aneurysm formation via enhanced macrophage-dependent efferocytosis

Mentor: Gilbert Upchurch, MD

 

Vascular Care for the Underserved Project Grant – Women’s Vascular Health

Katherine Reitz, MD and Natalie Sridharan, MD
University of Pittsburgh
Project title: Linking Reproductive History to Vascular Health: Understanding Peripheral Artery Disease Risk After Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes 

 

Vascular Care for the Underserved Project Grant – Women’s Vascular Health

Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDCES
Jefferson Health. Philadelphia, PA
Project title: Early Recognition of PAD Through Beauty Salons in High-Risk African American Communities

 

Vascular Research Initiatives Conference Trainee Awards

Majed Abdul-Samad, BSc
University of Toronto
Abstract title: Human Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque Extracellular Vesicles Modulate Macrophage Efferocytosis

Mentor: Kathryn Howe, MD, PhD

 

Apoorva Bhandari, MSc, MD
Oregon Health & Science University
Abstract title: Beyond Deficiency: Genotype-Specific Extracellular Matrix Disruption in Vascular Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome

Mentor: Sherene Shalhub, MD, MPH

 

Erin Risotto-Urbanowicz, MD, MPH
University of New Mexico
Abstract title: Dietary Ocean Nanoplastics Atherogenesis and Organ Accumulation Varies by Time and Diet Type in ApoE-/- Mice

Mentor: Ross Clark, MD

 

Sama N. Salih
University of Michigan Medical School 
Abstract title: The Histone Acetyltransferase MOF Regulates Macrophage Inflammation During Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Development

Mentor: Frank Davis, MD

 

Student Research Fellowship Awards

Jiaying Bi
Thomas Jefferson University
Project Title: A 3D-Printed Enclosure to Improve Precision and Reduce Tearing in Laser Fenestration of Endovascular Grafts

Mentor: Babak Abai, MD

 

Mikayla M. Fraunfelder
University of Missouri School of Medicine
Project Title: Investigating the predictive value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in assessment of aortic dissection risk and aortic aneurysm management

Mentor: Jonathan Bath, MD

 

Havard Lambert 
Medical University of South Carolina
Project Title: Plasma Analysis of Human Aortic Pathology Markers in Thoracic Versus Abdominal Aneurysm

Mentor: Jean Marie Ruddy MD

 

Sai Prasada Rao Manikonda         
Baylor College of Medicine
Project Title: National Trends in Acute Limb Ischemia: A Comparison of Survival and Limb Salvage in Endovascular vs. Open Treatments

Mentor: Jayer Chung, MD

 

Rahee Patel
Loyola Stritch School of Medicine
Project Title: Sex and Thrombospondin Regulation of PCSK9 in Hindlimb Ischemia

Mentor: Vivian Gahtan, MD

 

Beckett Peterson
Stanford University
Project Title: Mechanistic Links Between Endograft Coverage, False Lumen Thrombosis, and Aortic Degeneration Following TEVAR

Mentor: Elizabeth Leigh George, MD

 

Jared Salrin
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Project Title: The long-term comparative effectiveness of endovascular therapy and lower extremity bypass for Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia based upon the anatomic severity of femoropopliteal occlusive disease

Mentor: William P. Robinson, MD

 

Shaan Sekhon
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Harvard Medical School
Project Title: Network-Guided RNA Therapeutic Targets to Improve Prosthetic Bypass Graft Patency

Mentor: Patric Liang, MD

 

Neil Sharukh Shroff
University of Virginia
Project Title: Targeted Peptide Amphiphile Nanofibers for the Treatment of Atherosclerosis

Mentor: Melina R. Kibbe, MD

 

Rebecca Anne Skolnick
University of Rochester
Project Title: Changes in Aortic Compliance After the NECTRO Procedure

Mentor: Doran Mix, MD

 

Camber Smith
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Project Title: TNF-alpha reduces Jarid1c expression in diabetic macrophages impairing wound repair

Mentor: Katherine Gallagher, MD

 

Ziheng Wang
University of Washington
Project Title: Engineered iPSC-Derived Endothelial Cell Secretome Modulates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Function to Suppress Neointimal Hyperplasia

Mentor: Gale L. Tang, MD