Two Cedars-Sinai physicians to receive ACC Distinguished Scientist Award

Two physicians from the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute will receive the American College of Cardiology's highest honors for scientific research and clinical care during the organization's upcoming annual scientific meeting in Chicago.

Prediman K. Shah, MD, Director of the Cardiology Division, best known for his work to develop a mutant gene-based therapy for reversing arterial plaque as well as his research on a possible cholesterol vaccine against heart disease, will receive the Distinguished Scientist (Basic Domain) Award. C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, Director of the Women's Heart Center and a pioneer in identifying gender differences in heart disease, will receive the Distinguished Scientist (Clinical Domain) Award.

"It is a remarkable achievement for two of our faculty members to earn this honor in the same year," said Eduardo Marb-n, MD, PhD, the Mark S. Siegel Family Professor and director of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. "For years, both Dr. Shah and Dr. Bairey Merz have been on the leading edge of cardiology and to have recognition of this magnitude by one's peers is the greatest honor for any doctor."

David R. Holmes Jr., MD, president of the American College of Cardiology, said: "Dr. Shah and Dr. Bairey Merz have each made tremendous scientific contributions to advancing our knowledge of cardiovascular disease. "A pioneer in the field of women's cardiovascular health, Dr. Bairey Merz's research has transformed the way clinicians view and treat ischemic heart disease in women. Dr. Shah is an outstanding clinical cardiologist and a laboratory scientist who is unparalleled in his ability to bring relevant basic science to the bedside. The College is honored to be able to add these two doctors to the list of Distinguished Awards recipients."

The ACC Distinguished Awards were established to recognize outstanding individuals making contributions to cardiology. Each candidate is nominated by a fellow College member. Bairey Merz and Shah will receive their awards during the College's Annual Scientific Session scheduled for March 24-27.

During the Scientific Session, Shah, the Shapell and Webb Family Chair in Clinical Cardiology, will present his work on developing a gene therapy to lower LDL (commonly known as "bad" cholesterol) and raise HDL cholesterol levels.

Bairey Merz, the Women's Guild Chair in Women's Health, also will make several presentations at the meeting, including a symposium, "Treating Women and Men: What's Different and What's the Same?"

Recently, the Congress on Women's Health honored Bairey Merz with the Journal of Women's Health Award for Outstanding Achievement in Women's Health Research.