Cardiovascular & Neurovascular Health

Head: Zoltan Benyo, MD, PhD

Purpose

The Cardiovascular & Neurovascular Health Program advances translational research aimed at preserving vascular function across the lifespan, spanning microvascular regulation, large-vessel pathology, and cerebrovascular health. A central focus is the prevention of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID), alongside systemic vascular diseases including aortic aneurysm, peripheral artery disease (PAD), and carotid artery stenosis (CAS).The program integrates preclinical vascular biology, clinical investigation, and preventive medicine to reduce cardiovascular and neurovascular disease burden in aging populations.

Why it matters

• Vascular aging drives stroke, dementia, aneurysm formation, and systemic circulatory failure.

• Microvascular dysfunction and large-vessel degeneration represent interconnected processes.

• Early vascular intervention is one of the most scalable strategies to preserve brain and systemic health.

What we do

• Preclinical research on vascular regulation and microcirculatory aging

• Experimental models of cerebrovascular dysfunction and VCID

• Mechanistic studies of aortic aneurysm and large-vessel degeneration

• Translational research in peripheral artery disease and carotid pathology

• Biomarker development for vascular aging and risk prediction

• Clinical cardiovascular and neurovascular risk stratificationIntegration of preventive medicine targeting systemic vascular aging

• Epidemiological modeling of vascular disease trajectoriesPublic health strategies for cardiovascular and brain protection

• AI-enabled vascular phenotyping and predictive analytics

• Cross-program collaboration with aging and population health initiatives

Key outputs

• Mechanistic frameworks of systemic vascular aging

• Translational biomarkers of vascular health

• Clinical datasets linking vascular and cognitive outcomes

• Participation in international cardiovascular and VCID consortia

• Evidence frameworks for vascular prevention programs