Daniel T. Lackland, Dr.P.H., FAHA, professor of epidemiology and neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina, will receive the 2025 Population Research Prize at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025. The award recognizes Dr. Lackland's extensive contributions to hypertension research, stroke prevention, and addressing disparities in cardiovascular disease outcomes across different populations. His research has been instrumental in documenting and understanding the dramatic decline in U.S. stroke mortality rates, which dropped from 88 to 23 per 100,000 people between 1950 and 2010. As chair of a 2013 American Heart Association scientific statement, he helped attribute this significant reduction to aggressive hypertension treatment strategies that have become standard practice in cardiovascular care. His work has directly contributed to improvements in blood pressure management over the past two decades, making hypertension control a central component of preventive cardiology.
The importance of Dr. Lackland's research extends beyond general population health to specifically addressing health disparities. He currently serves as principal investigator for the Black Pooling Project, a national multi-cohort observational study that combines data from nine large epidemiologic studies to better understand racial disparities in cardiovascular disease and hypertension among Black Americans. This research aims to identify the social and biological factors contributing to unequal health outcomes and develop targeted interventions. Dr. Lackland's leadership extends to multiple national research initiatives, including chairing the Executive and Steering Committees of the long-running CARDIA study and serving as chair of the Observational Study Monitoring Board for the RURAL Study. His involvement in these major research projects demonstrates his commitment to population-level cardiovascular health improvement. Additional information about his research contributions can be found at heart.org.
Beyond his research accomplishments, Dr. Lackland has played a significant role in clinical guideline development, contributing to the American Heart Association's 2013 and 2017 hypertension guidelines. His international impact includes past presidency of the World Hypertension League and current role as editor-in-chief of the World Hypertension League Newsletter, where he continues to lead global initiatives to improve circulatory health worldwide. Dr. Lackland's mentorship has also been recognized as exceptional, having guided dozens of graduate students who now lead their own research programs. His service extends to numerous boards and advisory roles, including past volunteer regional board president of the American Heart Association and current service on the board of Constellation Health Quality and as chair of the Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence Foundation. The American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025, where Dr. Lackland will receive his award, serves as a premier global exchange for the latest advancements in cardiovascular science and will be held November 7-10, 2025, in New Orleans.
