We are delighted to announce the winners of the ISH 2026 awards who were presented during the ISH Awards and Lectures Session on 24th October in Dubai, UAE.
This Award and Lectureship was endowed by Farbwerke Hoechst in 1972 to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Franz Volhard. The award is made biennially to a person or persons who has initiated in the field of hypertension or in a related discipline, a concept which remains of current interest. The recipient shall be invited to deliver to the ISH a lecture on the topic for which the award is bestowed.
Recipient:
Thomas Lüscher, Switzerland
Professor Lüscher is highly deserving of this Award and Lectureship for his transformative contributions to cardiovascular research and education. His groundbreaking work on endothelial dysfunction, nitric oxide signalling, and endothelin fundamentally changed our understanding of vascular regulation. By proving that hypertension-induced endothelial impairment is reversible with treatment, he helped pioneer strategies targeting vascular health alongside blood pressure control. Beyond his research, his editorship of theEuropean Heart Journaland global society leadership highlight his monumental impact on the field.
Professor Lüscher gave a lecture at the ISH-ECS Dubai meeting entitled: “ From the cell to tissues and the patient – a translational journey ”
This award was originally endowed by Merck Sharp & Dohme International in 1974. The award is presented biennially, on the recommendation of the ISH Awards Committee to a person, persons or institution responsible for distinguished work relating to the aetiology, epidemiology, pathology or treatment of high blood pressure. The achievements of the recipient should reflect distinguished contributions in research, teaching or clinical activities relating to the aetiology, epidemiology, pathology or treatment of high blood pressure and successful mentorship of younger colleagues.
Recipients:
A number of extremely high calibre nominations were received for this award this year. The Awards Committee decided to recognise two world-leading scientists for the immense impact of their research in hypertension
Nadia Khan, Canada
The Awards Committee appreciated Professor Khan’s lifetime contributions to hypertension research and clinical practice, her global leadership in knowledge translation, and her extraordinary, unwavering support of the ISH. Professor Khan’s substantial contributions to population-based and clinical research have uncovered the impact of ethnicity and sex on hypertension and cardiovascular risk, advanced our understanding of antihypertensive treatment and medication adherence, and characterised the low diastolic threshold in hypertension management. Furthermore, her work has been instrumental in advancing patient-centred hypertension care by determining patient priorities in management research. Beyond this foundational research, Professor Khan has demonstrated exceptional dedication to knowledge translation-both in Canada, notably during her tenure as President of Hypertension Canada (2016–2020), and globally through the ISH. Her leadership in developing national and global guidelines, including the Virtual Hypertension Guidelines and ISH position papers, has profoundly improved global clinical practice.
Neil Poulter, UK
The Awards Committee appreciated Professor Poulter’s lifetime contributions to hypertension research, clinical practice, and his global leadership in mentorship and public health, alongside his immensely valued and longstanding support of the ISH. As an internationally renowned epidemiologist and clinician-scientist, Professor Poulter’s exceptional mentorship has inspired and advanced the careers of many early-career scientists and clinicians, particularly in low-resource settings. Furthermore, during his tenure as President of the ISH, he established the global May Measurement Month campaign, which has screened millions of people worldwide and raised vital awareness among individuals, healthcare systems, and policymakers regarding the importance of blood pressure screening and control. This initiative has had a particularly profound impact in resource-limited countries.
This award is for a researcher or researchers in the developing world who has done outstanding work in the region.
Recipient:
Augustine Odili, Nigeria
Professor Odili has made sustained and significant contributions to hypertension control in Nigeria and across Africa. His work has successfully bridged research, policy, clinical practice, and capacity building, with a strong focus on developing context-appropriate approaches for resource-constrained settings. As Lead Consultant, he shaped national policy and practice by spearheading the development of Nigeria’s National Guidelines for the Prevention, Detection, Diagnosis, and Management of Hypertension, alongside his contributions to several national expert committees. At the regional level, in his role as a leader of the ISH’s Africa Regional Advisory Group (RAG), he initiated the African School of Hypertension for Non-Physician Health Workers and championed the development of a Guideline for the Treatment of Hypertension in Africa. Through these visionary roles, he has advanced evidence-based hypertension care, strengthened health-worker capacity, and promoted scalable approaches to hypertension control across the continent.
Supported by the High Blood Pressure Research Foundation
This award was endowed by the High Blood Pressure Research Foundation in 2013 to honour the late Paul Kroner, an internationally renowned expert in the field of hypertension with a special interest in the neuroscience of blood pressure. The award is presented to a person who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to research on hypertension in the broad field of neuroscience.
Recipient:
Markus Schlaich, Australia
Professor Schlaich has made exceptional contributions to clinical cardiovascular neuroscience. His groundbreaking work has advanced our understanding of the sympathetic nervous system as both a pathophysiological factor and a treatment target. Through his highly influential papers, he has provided the most comprehensive documentation of the neural pathophysiology of essential hypertension, demonstrating that sympathetic nervous system activation initiates and sustains blood pressure elevation. His work has contributed substantially to revisiting the concept of renal denervation, and he has played a pivotal role in trials of catheter-based renal denervation for hypertension and other clinical contexts. This pioneering research has helped establish the therapy as an ESH- and ESC-recommended, FDA-approved treatment for uncontrolled hypertension.
Members who have given outstanding service to the ISH and have made unusually distinguished contributions to experimental and clinical research in hypertension may be nominated to be distinguished Members of the Society.
Recipient:
Claudio Borghi, Italy
The Awards Committee appreciated Professor Borghi’s exceptional and sustained contributions to hypertension research, clinical care, education, and outstanding service to the Society. He has served the ISH with great distinction through his time on the Council and Executive Council-including his leadership as Chair of the ISH Research, Science and Education Committee-helping to shape the Society’s scientific strategy, educational activities, and global impact. He is internationally recognised as one of the leading authorities in hypertension and cardiovascular prevention. Having authored or co-authored more than 750 peer-reviewed publications with over 73,000 citations and an h-index exceeding 90, his work has had an extraordinary influence on hypertension management, cardiovascular risk reduction, metabolic disorders, and guideline development worldwide. Beyond these scientific achievements, he has been an outstanding mentor, educator, and collaborator, fostering the development of future leaders in hypertension across continents.
Senior women researchers who have given outstanding service to the ISH and / or made exceptionally distinguished contributions to experimental and / or clinical research in hypertension may be nominated to receive an Outstanding Woman in Hypertension Research Award.
Senior Award recipients:
Nanfang Li (China)
Since earning her PhD from Kyoto University in 1996, Professor Li’s leadership as Director of the Xinjiang Hypertension Institute and Vice President of the Chinese Hypertension League has driven transformative advancements in patient care and regional prevention systems.
This award honours her groundbreaking work, including establishing a novel management framework for secondary hypertension, developing a clinical database of 450,000 patients, and identifying aldosterone as a key risk factor for comorbidities. Furthermore, her legacy is cemented by 186 SCI-indexed publications, her editorship of the definitive monograph Secondary Hypertension, and her contributions to over 50 clinical guidelines.
Elizabeth Muxfeldt (Brazil)
This award recognises Professor Muxfeldt’s over 30 years of transformative leadership, scientific excellence, and her groundbreaking advancements in understanding resistant and refractory hypertension through the ProHArt programme. The award celebrates not only her prolific research - highlighted by over 90 peer-reviewed publications and 5,000 citations - but also her profound dedication to mentorship, having guided 31 graduate theses and over 120 undergraduate projects. Furthermore, her active service to the global community through the ISH committees, alongside her vital national leadership as Scientific Director of the Brazilian Society of Hypertension, has left a lasting mark on our field.
Nanfang Li
China
Elizabeth Muxfeldt
Brazil
Alta Schutte
Australia
Mid-Career Award recipients: Niamh Chapman, Australia Dr Chapman’s exceptional leadership at less than 6 years post PhD, securing over $6.7M as CIA, and publishing 48 impactful articles reflect a trajectory of extraordinary excellence. Her establishment of the Health Equity and Hypertension Group at the University of Sydney and her leadership of two multisite trials have fundamentally advanced blood pressure measurement, patient education, and scalable hypertension care. Beyond her remarkable scientific productivity, her global impact-evidenced by her BP Toolkit shaping resources for the Heart Foundation, ISH, and PAHO HEARTS is truly inspiring. Furthermore, her sustained dedication to advancing women in hypertension research, mentoring early-career scientists, and building international capacity sets a benchmark for the medical community. This award is a fitting tribute to her originality, collaborative reach, and unwavering commitment to equitable cardiovascular prevention. Ching Siew Mooi, Malaysia Since completing your PhD in 2023, Professor Ching’s leadership as Professor of Family Medicine and Head of Clinical Research at Universiti Putra Malaysia has been truly transformative. Her pioneering work in home blood pressure monitoring, digital health, and cardiovascular risk has yielded over 30 Q1/Q2 publications, earned her a Stanford top 2% scientist listing (2021–2025), and resulted in her authoritative book, Navigating the Blood Pressure Continuum. Beyond her prolific scholarship, her extensive leadership- including roles with the ISH Women in Hypertension Research Committee, the Asia Pacific Society of Hypertension, the Malaysian Society of Hypertension, and her coordination of the May Measurement Month campaign in Malaysia since 2017- demonstrates an unwavering commitment to advancing clinical excellence worldwide.
Niamh Chapman
Australia
Ching Siew Mooi
Malaysia
Neusa Jessen
Mozambique
These awards established in 2024 by the ISH Capacity Building Network (Mentorship and Training, New Investigator and Women in Hypertension Research Committees). Awards will be presented to an early career researcher in each of the ISH regions – where possible – (1) Africa, (2) Americas (3) Asia Pacific, (4) Europe, (5) Middle East and North America and (6) South and Central Asia (SACA) and based on abstracts submitted for the ISH-ECS 2026 meeting. Winners: AFRICA: Oziegbe Oghide, Nigeria AMERICAS: Kamal Ghimire, USA ASIA PACIFIC (APAC): Yi-Bang Cheng, China EUROPE: Emelina Stambolliu, GreeceISH Emerging Leaders Awards
Oghide, Nigeria
Abstract: Seasonal Variation of Stroke in Nigeria: A Two-years Retrospective Study.
Kamal Ghimire, USA
Abstract:Estimating hypertension prevalence using single- versus two-visit blood pressuremeasurements.
Yi-Bang Cheng, China
Abstract: Associations of Brain Morphology and Cognitive Function with Ambulatory ePWV
Emelina Stambolliu, Greece
Abstract: Brachial-Ankle Pule Wave Velocity
Abhijit Suresh Chavan, India
Abstract: BLOOD PRESSURE CHANGES IN THE IMMEDIATE POST OPERATIVE PERIOD OF LIVE-RELATED KIDNEY DONORS IN AN INDIAN COHORT : SHOULD WE BE LOOKING MORE ?
This award was established in 2012 to encourage New Investigators and recognise excellence in scientific contribution at the ISH Scientific Meetings and will be awarded to New Investigators judged from a group of finalists to have given the best oral presentations. Discovery: Hiroka Nakashima, JapanISH New Investigator Oral Presentation Awards
Winners:
Abstract: Central Estrogen Protects Against Stress-Induced Decompensation in Hypertensive HFpEF Rats
Clinical: Gisele Bentley, UK
Abstract: Feasibility of Novel Photoplethysmography-Derived Blood Pressure Measurement During Parabolic Flight
This award was established in 2012 to encourage New Investigators and recognise excellence in scientific contribution at the ISH Scientific Meetings and will be awarded to New Investigators judged from a group of finalists to have given the best oral presentations. Winners: Basic Science:Jéssyca Milene Ribeiro, Brazil Abstract: EFFECT OF SODIUM NITRITE ON RENAL DAMAGE FROM 2-KIDNEY, 1-CLIP (2K-1C) HYPERTENSION IN RATS Clinical Science:Niamh Chapman, Australia Abstract: Recommendations for Home Blood Pressure Measurement Are Inconsistent Between International GuidelinesISH New Investigator Poster Presentation Awards