NYU's Judith Hochman to Receive 2025 Research Achievement Award for Transformative Cardiology Research

Dr. Judith S. Hochman, senior associate dean for clinical sciences and founding director of the Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, will receive the 2025 Research Achievement Award during the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans. The award recognizes her decades of influential research that has directly transformed clinical practice in cardiology and improved patient care globally.

Dr. Hochman's research portfolio includes serving as principal investigator for several landmark international trials funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Her work on the Occluded Artery Trial (OAT) built on experimental research in rodent models that demonstrated reduced adverse left ventricle remodeling through late reperfusion after myocardial infarction. However, the clinical trial ultimately showed no benefit for late angioplasty in stable post-MI patients, leading to important changes in treatment approaches.

The SHOCK Trial, another pivotal study led by Dr. Hochman, established the survival advantage of early revascularization in patients with cardiogenic shock due to left ventricular failure after acute MI. This landmark research demonstrated that emergency revascularization reduced mortality rates by 13 absolute percentage points at one-year and long-term follow-up. The findings directly led to increased use of early revascularization in cardiogenic shock cases, resulting in improved survival rates in community healthcare settings worldwide.

Her most recent major clinical trial, the NHLBI-funded International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness with Medical and Invasive Approaches (ISCHEMIA Trial), compared initial invasive versus conservative treatment strategies for stable coronary artery disease. While the trial found no significant difference in all-cause mortality between approaches, it identified substantial quality-of-life improvements among patients with angina who received invasive treatment, including coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass grafting.

These three landmark trials have directly influenced clinical practice guidelines from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology, as well as guidelines from other international medical organizations. Dr. Hochman's scientific contributions and her participation in multiple guideline writing committees have been instrumental in shaping contemporary cardiovascular care standards.

Beyond her work on revascularization, Dr. Hochman has been recognized as a pioneer in women's cardiovascular health. During the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction IIIb (TIMI IIIb) trial, she was among the first researchers to study sex differences in women with acute coronary syndromes and to identify the substantial incidence of women with these conditions having no obstructive coronary disease. This concept has since gained significant attention in the medical community and has influenced how cardiovascular disease is diagnosed and treated in women.

Dr. Hochman's leadership extends to her roles on the National Institutes of Health's Women's Health Initiative Advisory Committee and multiple NIH Data and Safety Monitoring Boards, reflecting her commitment to advancing women's health and ensuring rigor and safety in clinical trials. Her decades of service to the American Heart Association include participation on the Science Advisory Coordinating Committee, local and national research committees, the Scientific Sessions Planning Committee, and the Women in Cardiology Committee.

The impact of Dr. Hochman's research extends beyond academic circles to directly affect patient care and treatment decisions in hospitals and clinics worldwide. Her work has helped establish evidence-based approaches that balance intervention benefits against risks, ultimately leading to more personalized and effective cardiovascular care for millions of patients suffering from ischemic heart disease and related conditions.