LAUSR

Dr Marwa Mahmoud, a rising star in Cardiovascular Science, received theEarlyCareer InvestigatorAward, 2018. Dr Mahmoud completed her PhD studied in the laboratory of Prof Paul Evans, where she investigated the contribution of Twist1/GATA4 in endothelial cells exposed to shear stress. She won the award giving her talk entitled ‘TWIST1 Integrates Endothelial Responses to Flow in Vascular Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis’ and talked to us about her work in a clear and concise manner exhibiting an understanding of her area that is exceptional. She is pictured here receiving yet another award, while a PhD student, together with her supervisor Prof Paul C Evans. Dr Mahmoud studied the expression and function of the transcription factor Twist1 in endothelial cells during the initiation of atherosclerosis, using cultured cells and mouse models. She found that Twist1 is expressed preferentially at low shear stress regions in vivo and in vitro and that inhibition of Twist1 led to decreased proliferation and inflammation and a reduction in atherosclerosis and vascular leakiness. These observations point to Twist1 as an important driver of endothelial pathophysiology and atherosclerosis at sites of disturbed blood flow. Her work was published in Circulation Research in 2016 [1]. Dr Mahmoud is now based in New York in the laboratory of Professor John Tarbell who is a leader in the field of endothelial mechanosensing. Before moving to New York, she took a post-doctoral position in the laboratory of Professor Hanjoong Jo (Atlanta, USA) who coincidentally was the Marshall Distinguished Investigator at the BSCR Autumn 2018 meeting. Our other four Early Career Investigator finalists, selected by the BSCR committee based on their applications, were Scott Chiesa (University College London), Tom Kaiser (King’s College London) and Filippo Perbellini (Imperial College London) and Sophie Saxton (University of Manchester). They each gave excellent lectures and shared their important findings in cardiovascular research. * Maria Fragiadaki [email protected]