Chris Glembotski, PhD, with Shirin Doroudgar, PhD
Chris Glembotski, PhD, with Shirin Doroudgar, PhD

Dr. Shirin Doroudgar Earns Health Sciences Career Development Award

Chris Glembotski, PhD, with Shirin Doroudgar, PhD
Chris Glembotski, PhD, with Shirin Doroudgar, PhD

The University of Arizona Health Sciences Career Development Awards (CDA) program recently selected Shirin Doroudgar, PhD, assistant professor in Internal Medicine at the College of Medicine – Phoenix, as one of its four 2022 recipients.

“I’m extremely pleased and honored to have been selected from a group of very accomplished colleagues to receive the Health Sciences Career Development Award,” said Dr. Doroudgar. “This will allow focused time for me to carry out pilot studies that will provide data and training necessary to assure success as a multidisciplinary translational research scientist.”

Shirin Doroudgar, PhD
Shirin Doroudgar, PhD
CDA scholars must complete an independent research project, which is expected to generate sufficient pilot findings to enable the submission of an NIH K-series or R01 grant (or equivalent) by the second year of the program. Each scholar also must choose a lead mentor, or mentors if the project is multidisciplinary.

Dr. Doroudgar received a CDA for her research on the molecular changes in the heart that are produced as a result of cardiovascular pathologies that develop over a person’s lifetime. She explained that some of these changes are the heart’s attempt to adapt to the disease and preserve cardiac function.

“Our research focuses on identifying the naturally occurring adaptive molecular pathways in the heart, and understanding their functions during the course of cardiac disease and how we can boost their adaptive effects,” she said. “Discovering the adaptive cardiac responses and finding ways to therapeutically enhance these intrinsic protective processes will fortify the heart so it can better survive the challenges to cardiovascular function that take place throughout a person’s lifetime.”

“We are so proud of Dr. Doroudgar’s recognition in the form of this CDA,” said Christopher Glembotski, PhD — director of the Translational Cardiovascular Research Center (TCRC), professor in department of Internal Medicine, associate dean for Research and Dr. Doroudgar’s mentor. “She is the first CDA awardee at the College of Medicine – Phoenix, and we are excited that her research in the TCRC has been recognized by our colleagues at U of A Health Sciences.”

The CDA program was established by the Office of the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences in 2014 to provide research training and funding for early-career faculty members and foster academic careers in clinical and translational research. Each year, the four recipients of the two-year award receive 75% protected time for research, plus salary support and funding for research-related activities and travel.

Other recipients of the 2022 CDA are:

This story originally appeared on the Health Sciences Connect website.

About the College

Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to advance its core missions in education, research, clinical care and service to communities across Arizona. The college’s strength lies in our collaborations and partnerships with clinical affiliates, community organizations and industry sponsors. With our primary affiliate, Banner Health, we are recognized as the premier academic medical center in Phoenix. As an anchor institution of the Phoenix Bioscience Core, the college is home to signature research programs in neurosciences, cardiopulmonary diseases, immunology, informatics and metabolism. These focus areas uniquely position us to drive biomedical research and bolster economic development in the region.

As an urban institution with strong roots in rural and tribal health, the college has graduated more than 1,000 physicians and matriculates 130 students each year. Greater than 60% of matriculating students are from Arizona and many continue training at our GME sponsored residency programs, ultimately pursuing local academic and community-based opportunities. While our traditional four-year program continues to thrive, we will launch our recently approved accelerated three-year medical student curriculum with exclusive focus on primary care. This program is designed to further enhance workforce retention needs across Arizona.

The college has embarked on our strategic plan for 2025 to 2030. Learn more.