DALLAS and MINNEAPOLIS — The American Academy of Neurology and the American Heart Association have awarded the 2026 Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships for Brain Health to two neuroscientists, Sarah Kettlety, Ph.D., of Baltimore, Maryland, and Cali McEntee, Ph.D., of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Each will receive a $150,000 two-year scholarship to support continuing scientific research in brain health. This is the third year this scholarship has been awarded.
The Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships in Brain Health, also known as the Sacco Scholars program, are made possible by a generous bequest to the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Heart Association from the late Ralph L. Sacco, M.D., M.S., FAAN, FAHA. Sacco was the only neurologist to have served as president of both organizations. He passed away in 2023 from a brain tumor.
“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. “We look forward to seeing the work of these two scholars as these research projects build upon Dr. Sacco’s decades of work in saving and improving lives.”
“Dr. Ralph Sacco inspired many physicians and researchers through his remarkable career, and his legacy lives on through the Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships in Brain Health,” said American Academy of Neurology President Natalia S. Rost, M.D., M.P.H., FAAN, FAHA. “This program that supports talented researchers in advancing preventive neurology is a testament to his generosity in mentorship and passion for science.”
Kettlety, a postdoctoral researcher at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, will study the impact of childhood concussions on long-term health. Specifically, she will look at how a child’s heart rate changes when they exercise after a concussion. These heart‑rate responses can follow different patterns, and those patterns may give clues about whether the nervous system isn’t working quite right after the injury. One pattern may signal a problem with the automatic nervous system, and kids who show this pattern could be more likely to have concussion symptoms that last longer. The goal is to find out whether these heart‑rate patterns can help doctors predict which young patients will have a slower recovery, enabling more customized treatments.
McEntee, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, will look at the connection between exercise and brain health. As people age, it’s common for the brain to change, making learning and memory harder. Exercise helps keep the brain healthy and can improve memory, but scientists don’t fully understand why. McEntee will study small substances released during exercise, called exerkines, which come from muscles and fat and may travel to the brain. She wants to determine which exerkines are most important and how they help the brain stay sharp as we age. Understanding this could lead to new ways to protect brain health for older adults, people with conditions like diabetes or obesity, and even those who cannot exercise.
“Robust research funding is critically important to support innovative ideas that can lead to scientific breakthroughs,” said American Academy of Neurology Chief Executive Officer Mary E. Post, M.B.A., CAE. “With this collaborative partnership through the Sacco Scholars program, and the American Academy of Neurology’s Brain Health Initiative, we are committed to improving lives and making a meaningful impact on the landscape of brain health.”
“Dr. Ralph Sacco was the first neurologist to ever serve as the volunteer president of the American Heart Association and he was a dedicated volunteer for more than 20 years,” said Nancy Brown, the American Heart Association’s chief executive officer. “He spent much of his life mentoring young scientists just like the recipients of this year’s scholarships. More importantly, he was a dear friend and I am so proud to see his lifesaving legacy live on.”
Kettlety and McEntee begin their two-year research projects on July 1, 2026.
