UM Cardiology Fellow Wins Research Award

11/8/2007

Bettina Heidecker, M.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, won the prestigious Samuel A. Levine Young Clinical Investigator Award at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in Orlando on Tuesday. The national award, recognizing innovative research and promoting careers in clinical cardiovascular investigation, honored Dr. Heidecker’s discovery of a groundbreaking new way to predict the outcome for heart failure patients.

Joshua M. Hare, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.H.A., chief of the Division of Cardiology at the Miller School, and three other scientists from Johns Hopkins University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital worked with Dr. Heidecker on the study, "Transcriptomic Based Biomarkers Contain Diagnostic and Prognostic Information about Patients with New Onset Heart Failure." Dr. Hare described it as "a test that lets the doctor, and patient, know what’s going to happen. We can distinguish a patient who will survive and recover from those who are in immediate danger."

Dr. Heidecker used endomyocardial biopsies (small pieces of heart tissue obtained with a catheter) to differentiate potentially reversible myocarditis from other types of cardiomyopathy. "The obvious value is great peace of mind for some and the ability to treat more aggressively the patient who is in danger," said Dr. Hare.

Dr. Heidecker came to the United States two years ago after graduating from medical school at the University of Innsbruck in Austria. She described winning the award as "unbelievable" and said, "I never dreamed of achieving this. I’m so honored by this award and appreciate the opportunity to work in such a great lab setting at UM."

Between 30 and 40 scientists apply for the Young Clinical Investigator Award, which is usually awarded to a fellow or junior faculty member. Only five were chosen as finalists to present their research at the Scientific Sessions. Each application is based on the scientific merit of the abstract, the quality and originality of the manuscript and the oral presentation done at the Sessions. Dr. Heidecker was selected as the winner among entries from Harvard University, Duke University and Johns Hopkins University, an honor she calls "just fantastic."