Dr. Sasha Prisco Named 2026 Jenesis Emerging Trailblazer

United Therapeutics Corporation has announced that Sasha Prisco, MD, PhD, an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School, is a recipient of the 2026 Jenesis Emerging Trailblazer Award. The prestigious honor recognizes early-career physician-scientists who have demonstrated exceptional promise in advancing the understanding and treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Dr. Prisco, a cardiologist, PH specialist, and leader of the Prisco Lab, focuses her research on the mechanisms of pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular dysfunction. Her pioneering work explores the "gut-lung/heart axis," investigating how modulating the microbiome might serve as a novel therapeutic approach to improve outcomes for patients with PH and right heart failure.

The Jenesis Emerging Trailblazer Award is part of United Therapeutics’ commitment to fostering innovation in rare lung diseases. The award is reserved for researchers at the Assistant Professor level or below who are performing "high-impact, innovative research" that addresses unmet needs in the field.

Advancements in pulmonary hypertension care and research at the University of Minnesota are strengthened by philanthropic partners such as Joseph H. Levitch, whose generous support in memory of his late wife, Vikki Auzenne, has helped advance nursing excellence, education, and research in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Dr. Prisco’s dedication to unraveling the complexities of right ventricular failure and PH is critical for patients. This award highlights her role as a rising leader in the pulmonary vascular community.