Early researchers engage in molecular and technology-driven cardiovascular research

Early investigators and research assistants who contribute to cardiovascular research on behalf of the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center at Indiana University School of Medicine have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the use of advanced imaging, molecular research and biomedical medical engineering, utilizing some of the latest technologies available to help make new advances in cardiovascular research. 

Our early investigators and research assistants range from undergraduate students, graduate students, fellows and postdoctoral researchers, in addition to clinical investigators. Many of them are mentored by principal investigators and senior scientists and have the opportunity to contribute to significant National Institutes of Health R01 grant funded studies and clinical research. They also have an opportunity to present research they contributed to at national and international conferences via poster sessions and lectures.

Shreya Sangam, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, spent 3 years of her PhD candidacy with the IU School of Medicine under mentorship of Ankit A. Desai, MD, associate professor of medicine and principal investigator for the Cardiopulmonary Research Program at IU Krannert. Her research and dissertation, “Estrogen-mediated SOX17 Regulation in the Development of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension,” received much attention and provided her opportunities to speak and publish her research. In 2021, Sangam’s abstract, “16alpha-Hydroxyestrone Downregulates SOX17 During the Development of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension,” was selected for an oral presentation during the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, and she also spoke at the American Thoracic Society International Conference. Additionally, Sangam served as first author of the article, “SOX17 Deficiency Mediates Pulmonary Hypertension: At the Crossroads of Sex, Metabolism, and Genetics,” published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine in 2023.

Adedoyin Johnson, MD, PhD, is a third year resident in internal medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine and has contributed to the Cardiovascular Equity Research Program at the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center at the IU School of Medicine since 2022. She is mentored by Khadijah Breathett, MD, and IU Health advanced heart transplant cardiologist and tenured professor of medicine at IU School of Medicine. Johnson, who received her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine, has contributed to research projects, worked on her own research manuscript and has presented a poster at the American Heart Association annual meeting in November 2023. She said she is grateful for having Breathett mentor her.

"To have someone with a big name in cardiovascular medicine mentor me and other medical students--that has the time and energy to give to you means a lot," Johnson said. Like Breathett, she aspires to become an academic researcher and cardiologist and said she is excited about working on the next stage of her career. Johnson recently was selected as a cardiology fellow at IU School of Medicine.

Yuheng Chris Huang, MS, is a fifth-year PhD candidate at UCLA, who works with the Ischemic Heart Disease Research Program at Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center at IU School of Medicine as a visiting graduate student. Huang is pursuing a PhD in bioengineering. His dissertation is focused on advanced quantitative imaging techniques, particularly in cardiac quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), cardiac shimming and myocardial oxygenation imaging. His research applies specifically to imaging myocardial infarction and cardiac tissue characterization in ischemic heart disease.

“Dr. Rohan Dharmakumar has been an exceptional mentor throughout my PhD journey,” Huang said. “His mentorship, along with the guidance of others at IU Krannert, has played a pivotal role in developing my technical skills and shaping my research vision. Their support has empowered me to tackle challenging cardiovascular imaging problems confidently.”

Since Huang began in 2021, he has contributed to multiple research projects, including the development of innovative imaging methods for cardiac applications. Huang has co-authored papers, delivered oral presentations and presented digital posters at prestigious international conferences, including ISMRM and SCMR. 

He aspires to a career that bridges academia and industry, where he can advance medical imaging technologies in cardiovascular research that could ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Huang earned his master’s degree in electrical engineering at University of Southern California and began his doctoral program with UCLA in 2020.

Early researchers present internationally 

Yalcinkaya presented during the AI-Empowered Image Analysis & Processing Session with, "Efficient Analysis of Myocardial Perfusion MRI with Human-in-the-loop Dynamic Quality Control: Initial Results Using the SCMR Registry."