The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Heart Association have announced the recipients of the 2026 Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships for Brain Health, awarding $150,000 each to two neuroscientists for two-year research projects. Sarah Kettlety, Ph.D., of Baltimore, Maryland, and Cali McEntee, Ph.D., of Ann Arbor, Michigan, will begin their studies on July 1, 2026. This is the third year the scholarship has been awarded, funded by a bequest from the late Ralph L. Sacco, M.D., M.S., FAAN, FAHA, the only neurologist to have served as president of both organizations.
Kettlety, a postdoctoral researcher at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University, will investigate the impact of childhood concussions on long-term health. Her study focuses on how a child's heart rate changes during exercise after a concussion. Different heart-rate response patterns may indicate whether the autonomic nervous system is functioning properly post-injury. One pattern may signal a problem, potentially leading to prolonged concussion symptoms. Kettlety aims to determine if these patterns can predict slower recovery, enabling earlier, customized treatments. "If doctors can identify those patients early, they may be able to offer more customized treatments to help them recover more quickly and fully," Kettlety noted.
McEntee, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan Medical School, will explore the link between exercise and brain health. As people age, brain changes can impair learning and memory. While exercise is known to preserve brain health, the mechanisms remain unclear. McEntee will study exerkines—substances released from muscles and fat during exercise—that may travel to the brain and enhance function. She aims to identify key exerkines and how they help maintain cognitive sharpness with age. This research could lead to new strategies for protecting brain health in older adults, as well as in individuals with diabetes, obesity, or those unable to exercise due to illness or disability.
"As we learn more about the importance of the cognitive and physical aspects of the heart-brain connection, it’s critical to grow the body of evidence that can help us reduce risk and improve health," said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association. AAN President Natalia S. Rost, M.D., M.P.H., FAAN, FAHA, added, "Dr. Ralph Sacco inspired many through his remarkable career, and his legacy lives on through this program that supports talented researchers in advancing preventive neurology."
The scholarship program is part of the AAN's Brain Health Initiative and reflects a collaborative partnership between the AAN and the American Heart Association. "Robust research funding is critically important to support innovative ideas that can lead to scientific breakthroughs," said Mary E. Post, M.B.A., CAE, CEO of the AAN. Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, highlighted Sacco's mentorship and friendship, stating, "I am so proud to see his lifesaving legacy live on to continue influencing the growing body of scientific research into the connection of heart and brain health."
More information about the scholars and their projects is available on the AAN website and American Heart Association website.
