Amanda Adam receives an award for research on heart failure in the context of diabetes and aging

Graduate student Amanda Adam, 2025-26 recipient of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s Personnel Awards for Black Scholars

Amanda Adam, a graduate student at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, has always had a love for science and a curiosity about the human body. 

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by the way things work, especially illnesses and what happens inside the body when something goes wrong,” says Adam.

Today, she’s researching the development and severity of heart failure in the context of diabetes and aging due to the loss of a peptide called apelin, under the supervision of medicine professor Gavin Oudit. She is also a 2025-26 recipient of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s (HSFC) Personnel Awards for Black Scholars, a multi-year award which seeks to increase the representation of best-in-class Black researchers across heart and brain health research fields in Canada.

Get to know Adam and her work.

What drew you towards science?
The first time I learned about the inner ear in primary school — how the vibrations in the cochlea fluid turn into sound, and how the vestibular system contributes to balance — the idea of many sophisticated and intricate systems constantly functioning from birth to death to keep us alive has amazed me.

What brought you to the U of A for your graduate studies?
The wide variety of medical research being conducted stood out to me. It’s an environment where interdisciplinary conversations happen naturally, and that’s important for me, as I am interested in both basic sciences and their clinical applications.

Who inspired you to pursue this path?
My high school biology teacher had a huge impact on me. She taught biology in a way that was so fascinating and pushed me to think in a scientific manner.

What is the focus of your current research?
My research is focused on studying the effect of the loss of a peptide, called apelin, in the development and severity of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in mice, particularly in the context of diabetes and aging. I am looking at how removing the cardioprotective molecule apelin might worsen heart function.

Why is this specific area of health research meaningful to you?
My family has a history of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, so cardiovascular disease has always felt close to home. Seeing how common these conditions are and how they quietly progress over time makes the work feel meaningful.

What is the most exciting thing you’ve discovered or worked on so far?
The observed changes in the physiology of the mice, simply due to knocking out one peptide, are very fascinating. Analysing the expression of apelin in specific cellular types and seeing how that presents in the larger organism is really exciting.

What does it mean to you to be recognized through an award specifically for Black scholars?
I feel honored knowing that the committee believed in my research enough to support it. Being recognized through an award specifically for Black scholars carries additional meaning. Representation matters in academia, especially in science and medicine, where diversity is still limited. It feels meaningful to be a part of a community that acknowledges both excellence and the importance of creating a space for black researchers to thrive.

How will this award impact your work?
It allows me to research with peace of mind. Financial support reduces stress and makes it easier to focus fully on the scientific questions rather than external pressures. It also gives me more flexibility to engage deeply with my work.

What is the most valuable piece of advice your supervisor has given you?
Not to be afraid to ask for help from the people around me in order to make the most of the facilities and resources provided. That advice really shaped how I approach research and daily life. Learning to seek support and build community has made me a stronger researcher.

What are your long-term career goals?
My long-term goals include pursuing medicine while continuing to be involved in medical research. I want to bridge clinical practice and scientific discovery, both to treat patients and contribute to advancing our understanding of disease.