[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]The University of Pittsburgh\u2019s Center for Aortic Valve Disease Prediction and Integrated Research is one of three research centers supported by the American Heart Association\u2019s Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN) on Earlier Detection and Delaying Progression of Valvular Heart Disease. Led by Cynthia St. Hilaire, Ph.D., FAHA, director of the Center for Integrative Valve Science and associate professor of medicine, the Pitt center brings together researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Creighton University to advance the early detection, prevention and treatment of aortic stenosis (AS).<\/p>\n
The center\u2019s research examines how lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), systemic inflammation and the biomechanical forces acting on the valve interact to promote valve injury and calcification. Using biomarkers, clinical imaging and machine learning, along with realistic laboratory models of valve motion and blood flow, researchers will identify individuals at highest risk, define the processes that drive disease progression, and explore treatments that could block calcification before significant valve damage occurs. The ultimate goal is to shift aortic stenosis care from late-stage surgery toward earlier detection and prevention.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/newsroom.heart.org\/news\/scientific-researchers-awarded-15-million-to-study-heart-valve-disease” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Read the AHA press release” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#777777″ button_border_width=”2px” button_border_radius=”10px” custom_css_main_element=”width: 100%;” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.medschool.pitt.edu\/news\/pitt-joins-15m-initiative-american-heart-association-predict-and-treat-aortic-stenosis” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Read the Health Sciences article” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#777777″ button_border_width=”2px” button_border_radius=”10px” custom_css_main_element=”width: 100%;” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Cynthia St. Hilaire, PhD, FAHA” image=”https:\/\/www.sthilairelab.pitt.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/StHilaire_C_Card.jpg” image_icon_width=”200px” icon_alignment=”left” content_max_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h3″ body_font_size=”16px” animation=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Center Director \/ Project PI<\/strong> [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Satoshi Okawa, PhD” image=”https:\/\/www.sthilairelab.pitt.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Okawa_S_Card.jpg” image_icon_width=”200px” icon_alignment=”left” content_max_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h3″ body_font_size=”16px” animation=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Project PI<\/strong> [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Kristen Billiar, PhD, MSE, FAHA” image=”https:\/\/www.sthilairelab.pitt.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Billiar_K_Worcester_AHA-SFRN.jpg” image_icon_width=”200px” icon_alignment=”left” content_max_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h3″ body_font_size=”16px” animation=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Project PI [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.9″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Center for Aortic Valve Disease Prediction and Integrated Research AHA-SFRNThe University of Pittsburgh\u2019s Center for Aortic Valve Disease Prediction and Integrated Research is one of three research centers supported by the American Heart Association\u2019s Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN) on Earlier Detection and Delaying Progression of Valvular Heart Disease. Led by Cynthia St. Hilaire, Ph.D., […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1467","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sthilairelab.pitt.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sthilairelab.pitt.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sthilairelab.pitt.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sthilairelab.pitt.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sthilairelab.pitt.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1467"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.sthilairelab.pitt.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1510,"href":"https:\/\/www.sthilairelab.pitt.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1467\/revisions\/1510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sthilairelab.pitt.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh<\/p>\n
Assistant Professor of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Professor and Department Head
Worcester Polytechnic Institute<\/p>\n