Empire Innovation Associate Professor Continues Cardiovascular Health Study with $185,000

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 27, 2021) - Kai Zhang, Empire Innovation Associate Professor in the School of Public Health, received $185,000 from the American Heart Association to continue his research on the long-term impact of urban environments on the progression of cardiovascular health among healthy adults since early adulthood.

Zhang’s project is multidisciplinary to link cutting-edge exposure science approach with cardiovascular health research, bringing together experts from Northwestern University, Columbia University, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide. In this project, Zhang and his team will evaluate the impact of multiple urban exposures in the development of cardiovascular diseases by leveraging the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. This project will utilize the emerging urban exposome framework that incorporates air pollution and hundreds of features of the natural, built, and social environments within cities. This study will provide critical insights for informing interventions, urban planning, and behavior adaptations to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular diseases.