Dr. Paul Ridker is a world-renowned cardiovascular epidemiologist and pioneering researcher in the field of vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. He currently serves as the Eugene Braunwald Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and directs the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. A distinguished graduate of Brown University (1981), Harvard Medical School (1986), and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (1992), Dr. Ridker completed his clinical training at Brigham and Women's Hospital and West Roxbury VA Medical Center. His career progression from instructor to endowed professor at Harvard Medical School over three decades exemplifies his exceptional contributions to cardiovascular medicine and leadership in translational research.
Dr. Ridker's groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of inflammation's role in cardiovascular disease, providing the first proof-of-principle for the inflammation hypothesis of atherosclerosis. His work led to the development of the first FDA-approved diagnostic test for vascular inflammation and the first proven anti-inflammatory treatment for coronary artery disease. Notably, his leadership of the landmark 17,000-patient JUPITER trial demonstrated that statins significantly reduce cardiovascular events in individuals with normal LDL cholesterol but elevated C-reactive protein levels, challenging traditional paradigms of cardiovascular risk assessment. Dr. Ridker also developed the Reynolds Risk Score, the first clinical risk prediction tool to incorporate family history and inflammatory biomarkers alongside traditional risk factors, establishing CRP and other inflammatory markers as independent predictors of diabetes and hypertension.
As one of the most cited researchers in cardiovascular medicine worldwide with an h-index above 220, Dr. Ridker's influence extends across multiple domains of preventive cardiology and translational research. He has authored over 500 peer-reviewed publications and five textbooks, shaping the educational foundation for generations of cardiovascular researchers and clinicians. Dr. Ridker continues to lead innovative research through multinational randomized trials, including the PROMINENT trial investigating pemafibrate and research on inflammatory biomarkers in the REDUCE-IT trial. His ongoing work on inflammatory pathways and novel therapeutic approaches continues to redefine clinical practice and holds promise for further breakthroughs in precision medicine approaches to cardiovascular disease prevention.
