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 Sarah Kettlety, Ph.D., of Baltimore, and Cali McEntee, Ph.D., of Ann Arbor. The two-year scholarships support research aimed at understanding the heart-brain connection and improving neurological outcomes.
Kettlety, a postdoctoral researcher at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University, will investigate how heart rate changes during exercise after childhood concussions may predict recovery duration. Her study focuses on autonomic nervous system dysfunction, which could identify children at risk for prolonged symptoms and enable early, tailored interventions.
McEntee, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan Medical School, will explore how exerkines—substances released during exercise—affect brain health and memory in aging. By pinpointing key exerkines, she aims to develop strategies to protect brain function in older adults and those with conditions like diabetes or obesity, even if they cannot exercise.
The scholarships honor Dr. Ralph L. Sacco, the only neurologist to serve as president of both the AAN and the American Heart Association, who died in 2023. “Dr. Sacco inspired many physicians and researchers through his remarkable career, and his legacy lives on through this program,” said AAN President Natalia S. Rost. Stacey E. Rosen, American Heart Association volunteer president, emphasized the importance of “growing the body of evidence that can help us reduce risk and improve health.”
The Sacco Scholars program, now in its third year, is funded by a bequest from Sacco. “Robust research funding is critically important to support innovative ideas that can lead to scientific breakthroughs,” said AAN CEO Mary E. Post. Nancy Brown, American Heart Association CEO, noted Sacco’s dedication to mentoring young scientists: “He spent much of his life mentoring young scientists just like the recipients of this year’s scholarships.”
Kettlety and McEntee will begin their projects on July 1, 2026.
