Daniel Kelly, the Willard and Rhoda Ware Professor of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases and director of the Penn and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Cardiovascular Institutes, has been named a 2025 Distinguished Scientist by the American Heart Association (AHA).

Created in 2003, the AHA’s Distinguished Scientist designation honors AHA/ASA (American Stroke Association) members who have made extraordinary contributions to cardiovascular, stroke, and brain health research.

“I am very fortunate and honored to receive the 2025 Distinguished Scientist award from an organization that means so much to me,” said Dr. Kelly. “The AHA was instrumental in providing grant support early in my career. This support helped launch my independent research career, and enabled me to become acquainted with peers, including new collaborators.”

Dr. Kelly’s research career began with an interest in rare genetic conditions affecting metabolism that cause cardiomyopathy and sudden death in children. This led to a career-long mission to understand the metabolic origins of heart disease. Among his notable work, Dr. Kelly identified the genetic cause of a common condition affecting how the body processes fats for energy in mitochondria, leading to the creation of practical newborn screening tests. “Our work has moved from fundamental discovery to identification of new therapies that rebalance fuel metabolism in the failing heart, one of which has moved to human trials,” said Dr. Kelly.

In addition to the 2025 Distinguished Scientist designation, Dr. Kelly is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians. He has won many awards from the AHA, including the 1995 Established Investigator Award, the 2008 Basic Cardiovascular Science Council Distinguished Achievement award, and the 2009 Basic Research Prize.

Dr. Kelly will receive the 2025 Distinguished Scientist designation at the 2025 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans this November.