South Asian Heart Association (SAHA)

Welcome to this vibrant group of cardiovascular basic, translational, and clinical South Asian scientists. The main focus of the SAHA is to communicate, collaborate and promote basic, translational, clinical and population research among South Asian scientists.

The South Asian population represents over one-quarter of the world population and in the developed world there are over 5 million South Asians. Given that South Asians face increased prevalence and premature onset of cardiovascular diseases, as well as increased associated morbidity and mortality, there is an urgent need to highlight these findings and to identify and address the underlying causes. SAHA is a part of the Red Saree, Inc, activities.

For questions and membership, please send an email to singh.h@gmail.com
Linkedin: sahassociation@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/southasianheart/

Raj Kishore, PhD

President, SAHA

Dr. Kishore earned his doctoral degree in Anthropology and Immuno-Genetics from University of Lucknow in India. He later completed postdoctoral fellowships at New York Medical College, Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Case Western Reserve University. Prior to joining Temple, he served as a faculty member at Tufts University and later Northwestern University, where he was most recently Associate Professor of Medicine-Cardiology. Currently, he is Professor of Pharmacology and Director of Stem Cell Therapy Program at Temple University, Philadelphia.

Susmita Sahoo, PhD

Vice President, SAHA

Dr. Sahoo, PhD, is an Associate writing essay Professor of Medicine, Cardiology, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. She has completed her education and training at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai and at Northwestern University, Chicago. She has established a new line of research in the field of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine to study miniature biological vesicles secreted by cells called exosomes and their role in cardiac regeneration.

Sathyamangla Venkata Naga Prasad, PhD

Treasurer, SAHA

Dr. Prasad, PhD, was born in Chennai, India. He finished his PhD in molecular genetics at the School of Life Sciences, New Delhi, India. After his fellowship training, he joined the Division of Cardiology, Duke University Medical Center, as Assistant Research Professor. He joined the Department of Molecular Cardiology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, as Assistant Staff in 2005. He is also Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Prasad is the recipient of the prestigious Louis N. and Arnold M. Katz Award for Young Investigators from the American Heart Association. He was a finalist for the Outstanding Early Career Investigator Award from the Council of Basic Cardiovascular Sciences of the American Heart Association. He also served as a Young Investigator Representative on the Leadership Committee of the Council of Basic Cardiovascular Sciences of the American Heart Association. He was selected as a member of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.

Short-term plan:

  • To discuss the possibilities and options to launch travel awards for students attending AHA/BCVS meetings.
  • To introduce a nominal annual fee to maintain membership of this association.

Long-term plan:

  • To organize the first International SAHA in India/North America in 2020.
  • To discuss the possibilities of introducing awards to recognize accomplished scientists in the field of cardiovascular research.

Executive Leadership Committee

  • Raj Kishore, PhD
  • President
  • Susmita Sahoo, PhD
  • Secretary
  • Sathyamangalam Prasad, PhD
  • Treasurer
  • Farah Sheikh, PhD
  • Chair of the award committee
  • Harpreet Singh, PhD
  • Chair of the fundraising committee
  • Prasana Krishnamoorthy, PhD
  • Chair of the membership committee
  • Sanjiv Dhingra, PhD
  • Chair of the program committee
  • Shyam Bansal, PhD
  • Chair of the early career committee
  • Executive Committee Member
  • Red Saree, Inc

Program committee

  • Chair, Sanjiv Dhingra, PhD
  • Vice Chair, Raj Soorappan, PhD
  • Sumithra Miriyala, PhD
  • Suresh Palaniyandi, PhD
  • Rajasingh Johnson, PhD
  • Ram Kannappan, PhD

Fundraising committee

  • Chair, Harpreet Singh, PhD
  • Vice Chair, Baskaran Thyagarajan, PhD
  • Charles Thodeti, PhD
  • Sabyasachi Sen, MD
  • Mahmood Khan, PhD
  • Swaiman Singh, MD

Membership committee

  • Chair, Prasana Krishnamoorthy, PhD
  • Vice Chair, Nilanjana Maulik, PhD
  • Darukeshwara Joladarashi, PhD
  • Mohsin Khan, PhD
  • Nazish Sayed, PhD
  • Rajesh Kumari, PhD

Award committee

  • Chair, Farah Sheikh, PhD
  • Vice Chair, Arshad Jahangir, MD
  • Sakthivel Sadayappan, PhD
  • Saumya Das, MD, PhD
  • Gayathri Swaminath, PhD
  • Buddha Dawn, MD

Early Career committee

  • Chair, Shyam Bansal, PhD
  • Vice Chair, Nirmala Hariharan, PhD
  • Danish Syed, PhD
  • Dhanendra Tomar, PhD
  • Sadia Mohsin, PhD
  • Shanmughapriya Santhanam, PhD

Publication Committee

  • Rajasekaran Namakkal-Soorappan, PhD