Young Investigator Award - Clinical Science

This award, created in 1970, goes to young investigators working in clinical or basic-science cardiovascular research. The investigator must be either a research trainee or researcher in his or her first independent university or hospital appointment at the time of submission.

Dr. Lisa Mielniczuk, Runner Up - 2009

Finding Answers for Patients

“Patients with heart failure and pulmonary hypertension have complex medical issues, and can be extremely ill” says Dr. Lisa Mielniczuk of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. “Whether it’s recovery, improvement, survival to transplant or end-of-life care, I hope to make a difference.”

Dr. Mielniczuk is making a difference through her research. Her preliminary study of patients with pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure is the first to link them to cardiorenal syndrome and, subsequently, a 45 percent in-hospital mortality rate—far above what has been reported previously.

Part of the problem is that the physiology of the cardio-renal syndrome is not well understood, medication to treat heart failure affects kidney function adding an extra challenge, and no consensus exists as to management. Dr. Mielniczuk’s study adds to the understanding of the pathogenesis of renal dysfunction in this type of patient and may lead to new therapies.

Variety is a critical part of the job for Dr. Mielniczuk.

“You need multiple skills—technical, imaging, bedside—to do cardiology well,” she says. “I don’t spend all my day in a clinic or lab, which keeps the job interesting. And it’s exciting to be in a field that moves at such an enormous pace.”