The American Heart Association will recognize cardiovascular geneticist Pradeep Natarajan, M.D., M.M.Sc., FAHA, with its 2026 Population Research Prize at Scientific Sessions 2026, to be held Nov. 6-9 in Chicago. The award, presented during the Presidential Session on Sunday, Nov. 8, honors his transformative use of human genetics and large population studies to advance the understanding and prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Natarajan’s research has uncovered genetic mechanisms underlying lipid disorders, coronary artery disease, and clonal hematopoiesis, while advancing polygenic risk scores and precision medicine approaches that may identify individuals at elevated cardiovascular risk earlier in life. His discoveries have also accelerated the development of novel therapeutic targets. He joined Amgen in August 2026 as vice president of global research, head of human genetics, and head of the Cardiometabolic Therapeutic Area, and also serves as a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a distinguished physician at Massachusetts General Hospital.
“Congratulations to Dr. Pradeep Natarajan for his groundbreaking work that has redefined how human genetics and large population studies can be used to prevent cardiovascular disease,” said Manesh R. Patel, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association’s 2026-2027 volunteer president. “His innovative research has helped bridge genomic discovery with clinical application, advancing precision medicine while improving our understanding of cardiovascular risk across diverse populations.”
Dr. Natarajan’s influential contributions include advancing the interpretation of whole-genome sequencing for cardiovascular disease, identifying novel genetic pathways in lipid metabolism and coronary artery disease, and developing polygenic risk prediction tools. His work integrates genomics, multi-omics, electronic health records, and large population biobanks, and he has led numerous National Institutes of Health-funded investigations. As vice chair of writing groups for three scientific statements addressing polygenic risk scores for cardiovascular disease, direct-to-consumer genetic testing for cardiovascular disease, and the cardiovascular implications of clonal hematopoiesis, he has shaped clinical guidance. He also contributed to the 2026 Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia.
“I am honored to receive this recognition from the American Heart Association, an organization that shares my mission to improve health outcomes for those impacted by cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Natarajan. “I have dedicated my career to discovering and understanding the drivers of cardiovascular disease using human genetics, innovative methods and interdisciplinary collaboration towards optimal cardiovascular prevention and health.”
In addition to his research, Dr. Natarajan has mentored dozens of early-career investigators and helped develop the next generation of leaders in cardiovascular genomics. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, a medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco, and a master of medical sciences degree in biomedical informatics from Harvard Medical School. He completed his internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and his cardiovascular medicine fellowship and postdoctoral research training in human genetics at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. Natarajan has authored or co-authored more than 330 peer-reviewed publications and has served as principal investigator on several major NIH-funded studies, including an $11.2 million NIH Common Fund project advancing the study of somatic mosaicism across human tissues. His honors include election to the American Society for Clinical Investigation in 2022 and the Association of American Physicians in 2024, as well as the Heart Association’s Joseph A. Vita Award in 2023 and the Genomic and Precision Medicine Mid-Career Award in 2025.
This recognition underscores the increasing importance of genetics in cardiovascular prevention. As polygenic risk scores and precision medicine tools move closer to clinical practice, they may enable earlier identification of high-risk individuals and more personalized treatment strategies. For healthcare providers, this shift signals a growing need to integrate genetic data into routine cardiovascular risk assessment. For patients, it offers the promise of more targeted interventions and improved outcomes. The American Heart Association continues to provide resources through heart.org and stroke.org to support these advances.
