Loyola gets AHA grant for cardiac research

The American Heart Association awarded Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine $735,516 in 2014 in new and continuing grants for cardiac research.

Since 1984, the Heart Association has donated $8.4 million to fund 91 studies at Loyola.

"We would like to offer our robust and very sincere thanks for the Heart Association's many years of support," said Linda Brubaker, MD, MS, interim provost of Loyola's Health Sciences Division and dean and chief diversity officer of Stritch School of Medicine.

During a March 5 ceremony at Loyola's Stritch School of Medicine, AHA Chicago board member Fawn Lopez presented Loyola with a symbolic, oversize check for $735,526.

Since 1949, the American Heart Association has spent more than $3.4 billion on basic, clinical and population research to enhance knowledge about cardiovascular disease and stroke.

"We are proud to be able to fund research programs that support the development of new and existing life-saving technologies and by identifying new ways to prevent, detect and treat cardiovascular disease and stroke," said Brian Shields, executive director of American Heart Association Chicago. "Research funded by the American Heart Association has yielded such advances as cardiac catheterization, bypass surgery, pacemakers, CPR and angioplasty."

Larry Goldberg, president and CEO of Loyola University Health System, said being associated with the Heart Association "is a great fit for Loyola."

Loyola researchers are conducting a broad range of cardiac research, from the laboratory bench to the patient's bedside. This research will move into Loyola's new Center for Translational Research and Education, which is set to open in Spring, 2016 on Loyola's Health Sciences campus in Maywood.