Nicolas Pope M.D. Named Dwight Harken Scholar

Nicolas Pope, M.D., assistant professor of cardiothoracic surgery at MUSC, was named the American Association of Thoracic Surgery Dwight Harken Research Scholar from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2024. The AATS Foundation’s Research Scholarship is an early-career development award for young surgical scientists. It provides one early-career investigator with a two-year grant of $80,000 each year. 

 

Dr. Pope’s research focuses on developing a medical treatment for small thoracic aortic aneurysms, which may avert the need for surgical intervention in many patients. Aortic aneurysms represent the 15th leading cause of death in individuals over the age of 55, with the incidence of thoracic aortic aneurysms rising. When ruptured, thoracic aortic aneurysms predict a mortality exceeding 90%.

 

Aside from risk factor modification, there are currently no medical treatments for these aneurysms. There have long been efforts to find a medication to prevent the growth of such aneurysms, most focusing on preventing or blocking the inflammatory cascade known to be associated with aneurysm formation.  Dr. Pope’s research focuses on developing a medical treatment through the therapeutic use of resolvins, known to enhance the built in cell signaling system that turns off the body's cellular response to inflammation. Dr. Pope’s research team have demonstrated that the administration of these naturally occurring small molecules can both prevent and treat aneurysms in mice.

 

Shu Lin, M.D., a heart surgeon at Duke Health, received the 2nd Dwight Harken Research Scholar award in 2007. Cardiothoracic surgeon Bruce Rosengard, M.D., vice president for Medical Devices in Johnson & Johnson Global External Innovation, held the inaugural Dwight Harken Research Scholar award in 1998.