Dr. William C. Sessa is a distinguished vascular biologist renowned for his pioneering contributions to understanding endothelial function and cardiovascular disease mechanisms. After a nearly three-decade career at Yale School of Medicine, where he held the prestigious Alfred Gilman Professorship in Pharmacology and Medicine (Cardiology), he served as Vice Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology and Director of the Vascular Biology & Therapeutics Program. Dr. Sessa earned his PhD from New York Medical College in 1989 and completed postdoctoral training at the William Harvey Research Institute and University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, establishing himself as a leading authority in vascular biology before transitioning to industry leadership in February 2022.
Dr. Sessa's groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced the understanding of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) regulation and its critical role in vascular homeostasis and disease pathogenesis. His laboratory made seminal contributions to elucidating how cholesterol-enriched plasmalemmal microdomains, caveolins, and cavins regulate eNOS activity in physiological and pathological conditions. His work identifying novel pathways mediating low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake and transcytosis has provided crucial insights into atherosclerosis development, with his research forming the foundation for new therapeutic approaches to cardiovascular diseases. The significance of his work is reflected in numerous high-impact publications that have shaped contemporary vascular biology research and therapeutic development.
Recognized with prestigious honors including the Merck Award for Cardiovascular Research in 1992 and the 2019 Earl P. Benditt Award from the North American Vascular Biology Organization, Dr. Sessa's scientific leadership has profoundly influenced the cardiovascular research community. He now serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer for Pfizer's Internal Medicine Research Unit, directing research efforts targeting cardiovascular and metabolic diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. His prior experience as a long-time member of Pfizer's Therapeutic Area Scientific Advisory Panel since 2016 provided valuable insight into the company's research capabilities. Dr. Sessa continues to bridge fundamental vascular biology discoveries with clinical applications, maintaining his commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists through international collaborations including the Yale-Cambridge Program in Cardiovascular Research.
