CVD Summer Institute Showcases Downstate Faculty

By Office of the President | Sep 9, 2025

Downstate proudly hosted the NIH-funded CVD Summer Institute, welcoming early-career researchers dedicated to advancing equity in cardiovascular health. From a national pool of candidates, just ten were selected; two were our own: Dr. Filippa Juul and Dr. Vivian L. Chin.

Filippa Juul, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Health Policy & Management, is a nutritional epidemiologist whose research examines the impact of diet on cardiometabolic health. Her work focuses on understanding the links between ultra-processed foods, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. These insights are critical to shaping effective disease-prevention strategies.

Vivian L. Chin, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics/Endocrinology, investigates endothelial dysfunction in children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, obesity, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Her studies explore whether early therapy can reverse vascular dysfunction and inflammation in children with obesity, offering new hope for prevention and care.

Since 2006, the Summer Institute, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, has equipped emerging investigators to set impactful research priorities, design rigorous studies, and secure external funding. The program emphasizes community-engaged approaches, aligning closely with the needs of Brooklyn’s diverse populations and disproportionate cardiovascular burden.

The Institute is led by Mohamed Boutjdir, Ph.D., FAHA, Professor of Medicine, Cell Biology/Physiology and Pharmacology, whose research focuses on cardiac channelopathies, sudden cardiac death, and antiarrhythmic therapy. As Director of the Training and Mentoring Core of Downstate’s TRANSPORT program, Dr. Boutjdir has mentored more than 140 fellows, many now faculty leaders. Under his direction, the Summer Institute provides world-class mentoring, structured training, and a durable professional network that sustains long-term careers.

The outcomes speak for themselves: over its first 12 years, 58 percent of trainees secured peer-reviewed grants, 40 percent earned promotion to Associate Professor, and publications quadrupled.

This recognition underscores the excellence of Downstate faculty and the strength of our research community. Most importantly, it celebrates the promise of participants as they continue to advance discoveries that address inequities in heart health and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Congratulations to Drs. Juul and Chin, and to our Downstate research community for continuing to advance equity in cardiovascular health! Check out the publications here and here.