American Heart Association Honors Benoit Bruneau with 2026 Distinguished Scientist Award

Benoit Bruneau, PhD, director of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and acclaimed researcher in heart development and gene regulation, has been named an American Heart Association Distinguished Scientist for 2026—joining an elite group of scientists and clinicians whose work has advanced our understanding of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and brain health.

Established in 2003, the Distinguished Scientist designation is the American Heart Association’s highest scientific honor. The association recognized Bruneau for his significant, original, and sustained scientific contributions that have advanced the association’s mission: to be “a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.”

“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by the American Heart Association alongside scientists whose discoveries have shaped cardiovascular research," says Bruneau, who also serves as a senior investigator at Gladstone and professor of pediatrics at UC San Francisco. “This recognition reflects the dedication and creativity of the many students, postdoctoral scholars, and collaborators I’ve had the privilege to work with throughout my career.”

At Gladstone, Bruneau’s laboratory seeks to understand how genes are turned on and off during the formation of the heart in the embryo—and what happens when that process goes wrong. His team’s discoveries have advanced our understanding of heart development and gene regulation, providing a foundation for future advances in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

Benoit Bruneau studies how the heart develops and how disruptions in this process lead to congenital heart disease.

“Benoit’s work has shaped the way scientists around the world study congenital heart disease,” says Deepak Srivastava, MD, president of Gladstone Institutes. “Beyond his discoveries, he has built a legacy through his leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to scientific excellence. This recognition is a fitting tribute to his extraordinary contributions.”

Bruneau earned his doctorate in physiology at the University of Ottawa and completed postdoctoral training in genetics at Harvard Medical School. Before joining Gladstone in 2006, he led a cardiovascular research and developmental biology laboratory at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and served as an assistant professor at the University of Toronto.

“What continues to motivate me is that every answer leads to another question,” says Bruneau. “The more we learn about how the heart develops, the more opportunities we have to understand disease and uncover new possibilities for improving human health.”

Bruneau will be recognized at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2026, held Nov. 6-9 in Chicago.