Emelia Benjamin to Lead New AHA-funded Center on AFib

Emelia BenjaminEmelia Benjamin, MD, professor of Medicine and professor of Epidemiology at BUSM and BUSPH respectively, has been selected to direct a new center focused on A Fib research funded by the American Heart Association (AHA).  This Center will examine AFib risk and stroke risk in patients with AFib, with a specific focus on African American individuals. The goal is to advance AFib precision medicine by predicting individuals at risk and providing insights essential to develop effective prevention, treatment, and management strategies.

The announcement, made by the AHA, is part of a $28 million grant to six institutions in the AHA research network. Boston University joins Cleveland Clinic, Northwestern University, Stanford University, University of Utah and Vanderbilt University. This is the first grant of this type for BU.

“Establishing these centers with leading investigators from renowned institutions is an important step in discovering biological, genetic and behavioral connections affecting the occurrence and impact of AFib and stroke related to this common arrhythmia.  Bringing together the best science while empowering patients to be active participants in their own care should significantly improve the quality of life for those who suffer from AFib,” said American Heart Association Chief Science Officer Rose Marie Robertson.