Dr. Stanley Hazen is a world-renowned cardiovascular biologist and physician-scientist leading groundbreaking research at the intersection of heart disease and microbiome science. He has served Cleveland Clinic since 1997 in multiple leadership capacities including Chair of the Department of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences at the Lerner Research Institute and co-head of Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation within the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. Holding the prestigious Jan Bleeksma Chair in Vascular Cell Biology and Atherosclerosis, Dr. Hazen maintains an active clinical practice specializing in preventive cardiovascular medicine for patients with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, obesity and diabetes. His dual expertise as both a practicing physician and researcher enables seamless translation of scientific discoveries into clinical applications that directly benefit patient care.
Dr. Hazen's seminal research established the critical link between gut microbial metabolism and cardiovascular disease, fundamentally transforming our understanding of atherosclerosis pathogenesis beyond traditional risk factors. His pioneering discovery that gut bacteria metabolize L-carnitine from red meat to produce trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a pro-atherogenic substance that promotes arterial plaque formation, revealed an entirely new mechanism for heart disease development. This groundbreaking work, published in leading journals including Nature Medicine, has catalyzed an entirely new field of scientific inquiry with profound implications for cardiovascular prevention strategies. With over 380 peer-reviewed publications, his research has directly led to FDA-cleared diagnostic tests for cardiovascular disease risk assessment used worldwide and spurred the development of novel therapeutics currently in clinical trials.
Recognized as one of America's most accomplished physician-scientists, Dr. Hazen received the American Heart Association's highest scientific honor, the Distinguished Scientist Award, in 2017 for his extraordinary contributions to cardiovascular research. His work has been consistently recognized among the top advances in heart disease science, including being named the Inaugural recipient of the Top 10 Clinical Discovery of the Year Award in 2011 and receiving the American Heart Association's top 10 advance in heart disease and stroke science award in 2013. Holding more than 100 patents, his research continues to drive innovation in cardiovascular diagnostics while reshaping the scientific understanding of disease mechanisms. Dr. Hazen's enduring influence is evident in how his discoveries have permanently altered the landscape of cardiovascular research and opened promising new avenues for prevention and treatment worldwide.
