Virginia J. Howard, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor in the UAB School of Public Health, received the award for her contributions to stroke research.Virginia J. Howard, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, received this year’s Population Research Prize at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2024. Howard’s distinguished research career focuses on stroke and many factors contributing to the unequal burden of stroke.
“I am honored to be recognized for my part in research exploring health risks of different populations, especially those with an increased risk of stroke,” Howard said. “I’m a firm believer that, when we know more, we do more.”
Howard is the lead stroke epidemiologist for the national REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study. The 25-year cohort study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, is a cornerstone in stroke and cognitive health research. In addition to REGARDS, she has been one of the lead clinical trial epidemiologists for five major stroke primary or secondary prevention multicenter clinical trials. She is a longtime co-director of the Analysis Core and mentor on UAB’s Deep South Resource Center for Minority Aging Research funded by National Institute on Aging.
Throughout her career, Howard has collaborated with multidisciplinary scientists including undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, early career and senior investigators, clinical and basic scientists, and individuals from underrepresented group.
“I have been fortunate to be a part of committed, multidisciplinary, highly collaborative teams,” Howard said. “My career has been enriched through close collaboration with national leaders in stroke, biostatistics, epidemiology and cognitive health, including current UAB faculty Drs. Suzanne Judd, George Howard and Ron Lazar and retired professor Virginia Wadley.”
Howard acknowledges the contributions of many individuals within the UAB School of Public Health who contributed their diverse and significant skills and knowledge to the research teams throughout the departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Survey Research Unit.