Cardiometabolic diseases represent a major cause of illness and premature death worldwide
Edith Cowan University (ECU) PhD candidate Carlos Toro-Huamanchumo has been awarded a prestigious fellowship with the International Atherosclerosis Society's (IAS's) Inflammation Academy.
The Inflammation Academy is a flagship program of the IAS, providing an immersive training experience for early-career researchers to bring their talent and creativity to the growing body of knowledge on the critical role of inflammation in cardiometabolic disease. Cardiometabolic diseases encompass interconnected conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and represent a major cause of illness and premature death worldwide.
Carlos is studying subclinical cardiovascular disease and vascular ageing, and their links with brain ageing, cognitive decline and dementia, at ECU's Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, in the School of Medical and Health Sciences. Already granted a highly competitive Forrest Scholarship, Carlos won one of only 30 fellowship places, from a pool of nearly 200 applicants, securing a year-long stint at the Inflammation Academy, and financial support of up to USD $1,500, intended to help cover travel and accommodation costs.
Evidence-based medicine
The Academy seeks to equip the successful candidates with skills to better understand the key role of inflammation in these conditions, and to develop innovative evidence-based treatments, working towards understanding and ultimately reducing their prevalence, under the guidance and mentorship of prominent experts in the field.
The 2026–2027 fellowship program kicks off with an in-person session in Munich in August – a valuable networking opportunity with Inflammation Academy faculty, as well as with previous program participants.
Also featured is a webinar series, with engaged discussion of hot topics proposed by the fellows themselves. Again, this is designed as a networking opportunity, fostering mentor–mentee relationships between fellows and Academy faculty.
Thought leadership training is an important component of the fellowship, designed to equip awardees with essential skills to communicate their work to a wider audience, including policymakers and patients.
Being selected as a Fellow of the IAS Inflammation Academy is a great honour. For me, it is a recognition of the work I have been developing in cardiometabolic epidemiology, and also an opportunity to learn from leading international experts in atherosclerosis and inflammation.
Carlos' long-term goal is to continue consolidating his career as an independent academic researcher focused on cardiometabolic disease prevention and cardiovascular epidemiology. He is particularly interested in generating evidence that is relevant not only to high-income settings but also to low- and middle-income countries, including his home country, Peru, and the broader Latin American region.
"This fellowship will help me expand my international network, refine my research agenda, and develop collaborations with leaders in atherosclerosis and inflammation," he said.
"I am most looking forward to engaging with international faculty and fellows, discussing current advances in inflammation and atherosclerosis, and strengthening my ability to translate complex cardiovascular science into meaningful research questions and public health impact. I am also looking forward to the in-person meeting in Munich and the opportunity to build long-term international collaborations."
Carlos also acknowledged the support he has received from Professor Joshua Lewis and Dr Marc Sim at ECU, as well as Professor James Arvanitakis and the Forrest Research Foundation team.
Cultivating emerging leaders
The program is championed by top Harvard cardiologist Professor Peter Libby. "We were able to engage and cultivate emerging leaders over several years and it was incredibly gratifying that a large cohort emerged ready to tackle lipid management. I am delighted that many of the early career individuals we cultivated at that time have now become leaders in our field," Professor Libby said.
With the fellowship program, the Inflammation Academy aims to prepare a community of researchers with the skills, networks and knowledge needed to shape and support the next generation of medical professionals, making a difference in this vital area of cardiovascular health.
"Opportunities like this are important not only for individual career development, but also for strengthening international research connections and ensuring that cardiovascular research includes perspectives from diverse regions and populations," Carlos said.
