Biodmedical sciences graduate student Maicon Landim Vieira has been awarded a two-year, predoctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association.

Vieira, who is mentored by associate professor and researcher Jose Pinto, was awarded for his titled project: “Deciphering the structural and molecular processes of myofilament remodeling in phenotype-rescued cardiomyopathy models.”

“I feel honored to receive this prestigious AHA fellowship,” Vieira said. “It is all thanks to hard work and great mentorship that I am able to represent the Florida State University College of Medicine among those awarded.”

Vieira’s fellowship, which began Jan. 1, runs through Dec. 31, 2023.

“Maicon is a highly motivated and gifted scientist, interested in obtaining training in cardiovascular research,” Pinto said. “His dedication and passion for science will certainly drive his progress as a future successful scientist. He will benefit tremendously from this training opportunity (AHA predoctoral fellowship) and with proper guidance and support, he will have the necessary tools to develop scientific independence.”

A fifth-year graduate student from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Vieira has been involved in cardiovascular research through his time in the Pinto Lab. The focus of his research has been investigating how inheritable pathogenic sarcomeric variants affect cardiac myofilament function and structure.

The American Heart Association (AHA) is a voluntary health agency, whose top priority is supporting research.