November at HMRI: Breakthrough Science, National Stages, and Community Momentum

November brought national visibility to HMRI’s work across cardiovascular science, neuroscience, global health, and STEM education. Our students, fellows, and faculty shared new discoveries at major scientific meetings, earned competitive recognition, and engaged our community in conversations about the future of American science.

HMRI at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025

This year’s Scientific Sessions in New Orleans gathered thousands of researchers, clinicians, and innovators focused on cardiovascular and brain health. HMRI students and scientists contributed through poster presentations, chaired sessions, and collaborative research.

Undergraduate Researchers Present on a National Platform

Three students from HMRI’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE) program were selected for the competitive AHA S.U.R.E. Poster Program:

• Astrid Ouolo – Biomarker and Neuro-Disease Mechanism Laboratory

• Jonathan Chpolansky – Cardiovascular Signaling Laboratory

• Diana Rodriguez – Angiogenesis and Brain Development Laboratory

Each student presented original research developed during their HMRI summer fellowship, showcasing early promise in cardiovascular and neurovascular science.

Faculty Leadership in Scientific Dialogue and Workforce Development

Dr. Nicole Purcell, Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Research and HMRI’s Scientific Director of Education Programs, contributed in two leadership roles:

• Moderator: Molecular Insights in HFpEF Pathophysiology

• Panelist: Building a Robust Pipeline & Sustaining a Robust Workforce

Her participation reflected the field’s growing focus on cultivating the next generation of scientific leaders alongside advancing mechanistic research.

Ten HMRI-Coauthored Abstracts Highlight AI and Cardiovascular Innovation

Drs. Robert Kloner, Rashid Alavi, Wangde Dai, and Niema Pahlevan (USC; former HMRI Boswell Fellow) presented 10 coauthored abstracts, including:

• AI tools for early detection of heart attack and stroke

• Studies examining the cardiac effects of chronic migraine

• Findings suggesting SGLT-2 inhibitors as a potential late-stage stroke therapy

• AI-driven insights from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) using routine CT scans

Together, these presentations advanced conversations around data-driven diagnostics and mechanistic cardiovascular research.

HMRI at Society for Neuroscience 2025

At the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting in San Diego, HMRI investigators presented work that spanned migraine biology, cognitive aging, neurodevelopment, and neuropsychiatric modeling.

HMRI Migraine Research Selected for International Press Conference

Among more than 10,000 submissions, the study “Selective Vulnerability of GABAergic Neurons in Chronic Migraine” was selected for an official SfN press conference—a rare distinction.

• First author: Dr. Kazi Helal Hossain, Postdoctoral Fellow

• Press presenter: Dr. Anju Vasudevan, Chair & Scientific Director, Basic and Translational Neurosciences

The team’s findings highlight specific neuronal populations that may contribute to chronic migraine vulnerability.

Postdoctoral Fellow Presentations

HMRI postdoctoral fellows contributed new research across multiple areas:

• Dr. Kazi Helal Hossain
  Selective Vulnerability of GABAergic Neurons in Chronic Migraine
  Expanded poster showing reduced GABAergic neurons in regions linked to pain, emotion, and cognition.

• Dr. Obaidur Rahman
  In Vitro Modeling of Schizophrenia Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem-cell–derived models to study cellular pathways underlying schizophrenia.

• Dr. Abdulhakim Al-Ezzi
  Altered Prefrontal Hemodynamics with Interference Challenging in Cognitively Healthy Individuals with High Plasma pTau-217. Early insights into blood-flow changes associated with elevated Alzheimer’s biomarkers.

• Dr. Joby Jose
  A Longitudinal Multi-Omics Pilot Analysis of CSF Reveals Changes in Cell-Matrix Adhesion Protein Levels Associated with Cognitive Impairment. Emerging evidence of CSF protein shifts that may serve as early indicators of cognitive decline.

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Presentation

Miriam Dever, SURF Student

• School: Dickinson College

• Mentor: Dr. Xianghong Arakaki

• Poster: Frontal Connectivity Asymmetry During Task Switching for Cognitively Healthy Individuals with Low and High Plasma pTau217 Levels

Her work examined subtle differences in frontal brain connectivity during task switching, offering clues to early neural changes associated with Alzheimer’s risk.

Fearless: Critical Conversations — The Future of American Science

On November 6, HMRI hosted The Future of American Science as part of the President’s Event Series, Fearless: Critical Conversations.

Moderated by Dr. Julia Bradsher, HMRI’s President and CEO, the panel featured:

• Dr. Shlomo Melmed, Executive Vice President and Dean of the Faculty, Cedars-Sinai

• Dr. Angelika Niemz, Dean, Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences, Keck Graduate Institute

• Dr. Scott Kaiser, CEO and Co-Founder, Determined Health; Incoming Board Chair, BrightFocus Foundation

The discussion explored emerging technologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, shifts in public trust, and the evolving research workforce. A recording is available for those who would like to revisit or share the program.

Global Engagement and Scientific Leadership

Dr. Alfred Fonteh Contributes to International Grant Training

Dr. Alfred Fonteh served as a coach for Grant-o-thon 2025, an international workshop for early-career global health researchers organized by Dr. Joseph D. Tucker (UNC / London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine). His mentee, Dr. Jacob Ayembilla of Ghana, was selected from more than 247 applicants.

Dr. Nicole Purcell Recognized at the Saving tiny Hearts Gala

At the 18th Annual Saving tiny Hearts Gala in Chicago, Dr. Purcell was recognized for her grant-funded research project, “The Effect of Nicotine on PHLPP Isoforms in the Adolescent Heart.” This research examines how nicotine exposure influences oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and cardiomyocyte injury.

Dr. Xianghong Arakaki Appointed Programs Chair for ISTAART Neurophysiology PIA

Dr. Arakaki now serves as Programs Chair for the Neurophysiology Professional Interest Area within ISTAART, helping shape scientific sessions and educational programming in Alzheimer’s and dementia research.

Giving Tuesday: A Milestone for STEM Education

Thanks to generous community support, HMRI unlocked a $2,500 matching gift and reached a $5,000 total fundraising goal. These funds expand hands-on research opportunities for high school and college students—a critical investment in strengthening the scientific workforce.

Recent Publications

HMRI faculty and collaborators contributed multiple peer-reviewed papers and conference proceedings in November, spanning AI-driven cardiovascular science, migraine research, stroke mechanisms, cognitive aging, and neurodegeneration.

View Recent Publications

Upcoming Scientific Lectures

January 28, 2026
What the Heart Tells About the Brain: Insights from Pre-Symptomatic Alzheimer’s Disease and Migraine Research
Xianghong Arakaki, MD, PhD
3–4 PM PST | In person & Zoom
Registration link forthcoming

February 4, 2026
Tsui-Fen Chou, PhD, Caltech
3–4 PM PST | In person & Zoom
Registration link forthcoming

February 18, 2026
Insights of Molecular Mechanisms of Cortical Development and Down Syndrome Through Single-Cell Multi-Omics
Luis de la Torre-Ubieta, PhD, UCLA
3–4 PM PST | In person & Zoom
Registration link forthcoming

You Power Discovery

Every breakthrough begins with a community that believes in science. Your generosity fuels HMRI’s students, researchers, and partnerships—here in Pasadena and around the world.

To make a gift, visit HMRI.org/donate or contact HMRI’s Development Office at (626) 389-3408.