Each year, the Family Heart Foundation, a patient-advocacy organization dedicated to increasing early diagnosis and treatment of lipoprotein(a) and familial hypercholesterolemia, recognizes individuals whose contributions have reshaped cardiovascular care with the Family Heart Foundation Pioneer Award.
This year’s recipient of the 2025 Family Heart Foundation Pioneer Award was Dr. Sotirios (Sam) Tsimikas. Honoring his decades-long dedication to advancing cardiovascular research and patient care, the award was presented during the 11th Annual Family Heart Global Summit, where Dr. Tsimikas also delivered the keynote lecture.
Dr. Tsimikas currently serves as a professor of medicine and director of vascular medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and SVP, global cardiovascular development at Ionis Pharmaceuticals.
A trailblazer in lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), research, Dr. Tsimikas has dedicated his career to improving diagnostics and developing novel therapies for cardiovascular disease. His groundbreaking work has helped shape the field’s understanding of Lp(a) and and has opened the door to treatments that may dramatically improve patient outcomes.
By honoring Dr. Tsimikas this year, the Family Heart Foundation continues its tradition of celebrating innovators who are changing the landscape of heart health. From founding the first designated Lp(a) clinic to spearheading large-scale clinical trials, his work has advanced understanding of Lp(a) and continues to support the development of new therapies that could improve care for millions.
Previous honorees include renowned researchers and innovators Dr. Helen Hobbs (2024) and Professors Anne Tybjærg-Hansen and Børge Nordestgaard (2023).
