Special Interview with Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine Editorial Board Member Prof. Anindita Das: Insights into the Pleiotropic Roles of miRNAs, Cardioprotective Strategies, and the Future of Cardiovascular Research
7 May 2026
Prof. Anindita Das, Ph.D., F.A.H.A., is a Full Professor in the Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a renowned expert in cardiovascular basic and translational medicine, with a long-standing research focus on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, cardioprotection in the diabetic heart, anti-cancer drug-induced cardiotoxicity, microRNAs, and related signaling pathways. As an active Editorial Board member of Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine (RCM), she has published high-quality reviews in the journal and recently launched a Special Issue on “Molecular Targets and Protective Strategies in Cardiovascular Injury”. In this exclusive interview, Prof. Das shares her academic journey, offers cutting-edge insights into cardiovascular research, and provides valuable perspectives on the development of RCM.
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Anindita Das, PhD, FAHA |
| Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA | |
| Interests: myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury; myocardial pre- and post-conditioning; mTOR signaling; phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor; doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity; protein kinase G; STAT3 signaling; microRNA; inflammation; breast cancer |
1. Please briefly introduce your research interests, academic and work experience to our readers. Among these, which topics interest you the most and receive the most of your efforts?
I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, a Master’s in Biochemistry, and my Ph.D. in Science. After moving to the US in 1998 as a postdoc, I studied cancer biology at the University of Kentucky and Ohio State University, focusing on transcription factor-mediated induction of apoptosis and radiosensitivity in prostate cancer. Since 2002, my research has focused on cardiology, with an emphasis on identifying cellular and molecular mechanisms that protect against ischemia/reperfusion injury, heart failure, and chemotherapy- or immunotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. I was appointed as an Assistant Professor in 2007, promoted to Associate Professor in 2017, and became a Full Professor in 2023. My independent research program aims to investigate the pharmacological strategies to attenuate adverse cardiac remodeling following myocardial infarction, with a particular focus on diabetic settings. A major goal of my work is to elucidate the mechanistic basis of mTOR inhibition as a cardioprotective strategy under conditions of diabetes-associated cardiac stress.
I am also interested in developing novel pharmacotherapy against chemotherapeutic drug-induced cardiotoxicity. For example, I found that phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors enhance the efficacy of doxorubicin in multiple cancers while providing cardioprotection. I have authored 70 original papers, 20 review articles, and 4 book chapters, in addition to numerous abstracts and presentations at national and international scientific conferences.
2. With your extensive experience in cardiovascular basic and translational medicine, what core competency or personal quality do you consider essential for sustaining research enthusiasm and achieving genuine innovation? How is this attribute developed through hands-on scientific practice?
In cardiovascular research, the crucial quality for a scientist is to be genuinely interested in cardiovascular diseases, studying molecular signaling and targets to develop potential therapeutics with translational importance. We must accept experimental failures and even the failure of our hypotheses, which forces us to think critically to resolve problems, overcome drawbacks, and discover novel findings with innovative outcomes. In my opinion, interdisciplinary expertise and active collaboration with other investigators across diverse fields are crucial for therapeutic advancements, particularly in the emerging field of cardio-oncology.
3. As a mentor, you have trained numerous outstanding students. When guiding your students in academic writing, what competencies do you prioritize developing? What core elements do you believe constitute a high-quality academic paper?
To write a high‑quality academic paper, the student needs to understand the research topic, its significance, and its novelty by reviewing up‑to‑date publications in high‑impact journals. They should provide sufficient, clear, and concise information about experimental design, methods, and data interpretation, which could be reproducibility. They should also discuss the drawbacks or limitations of the study. The paper should be written in a concise format with logical progression, a strong introduction and conclusion, and accurate citations and references. Scientific rigor is also essential.
4. Last year, in your review published in Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine (RCM) titled “The Pleiotropic Role of the MicroRNA-17-92 Cluster in Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer,” you systematically outline the dual role of miRNA-17-92 in cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Why do you think this miRNA cluster exhibits “pleiotropic” characteristics? What do you see as its most promising potential clinical application in the future?
The miRNA-17-92 cluster includes seven miRNAs that regulate critical processes in cardiac development, regeneration, and aging, and also control cancer occurrence, metastasis, and prognosis. Some members serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. My goal was to summarize its multifaceted roles to support the development of novel RNA-targeted therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Its pleiotropic nature comes from its regulation of multiple cellular pathways in diverse physiological and pathological contexts.
5. Which emerging technologies or research methods are promoting the innovation and transformation of the cardiovascular medicine field at present? Is your research team applying these technologies in the research of microRNAs and cardiotoxicity? For example, single-cell sequencing, organoid models, and AI-assisted analysis of molecular mechanisms.
We utilized cardiac microRNA arrays and RNA sequencing, along with human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, for our microRNA and mTOR signaling studies under diabetic conditions. You can see two of our publications: one in Cells (Integrated Analysis of lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA Regulatory Network in Rapamycin-Induced Cardioprotection against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Diabetic Rabbits), where we performed microRNA analysis, and another in iScience (Differential Regulation of mTOR Complexes with miR-302a Attenuates Myocardial Reperfusion Injury in Diabetes), where we used iPSC‑derived cardiomyocytes.
6. You recently initiated and organized a Special Issue entitled “Molecular Targets and Protective Strategies in Cardiovascular Injury.” What motivated you to select this topic? What research hotspots and cutting-edge directions does this theme focus on, and what academic and clinical value do you expect this Special Issue to bring to the field of cardiovascular medicine?
Despite significant advances in therapeutic strategies, cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death in the US and worldwide. Significant hurdles remain for 2026 and beyond. This Special Issue aims to publish manuscripts highlighting the underlying molecular signaling pathways in cardiac injury, thereby advancing our knowledge and facilitating the development of novel cardioprotective strategies.
7. RCM emphasizes a rigorous, fair, and transparent peer-review process. As an Editorial Board member, what standards do you prioritize when evaluating manuscripts? How would you assess the journal’s current peer-review quality and integrity?
When reviewing a manuscript, I prioritize scientific significance, innovation, and rigor. The manuscript should acknowledge the limitations of the study. Reviewers should be well‑recognized scientists in the related research area. Sometimes a manuscript is not well written, not concise, or the sentences are not fluent. In such cases, a preliminary non‑scientific review from the journal is very helpful and necessary before sending it to the academic editor. Otherwise, poorly written papers (e.g., with meaningless paragraphs) are very difficult to evaluate.
This interview highlights Prof. Das’s dedication to advancing molecular and translational cardiovascular research, as well as her commitment to academic rigor and mentorship. Her insights also underscore the importance of high-quality peer review and interdisciplinary collaboration in shaping the future of cardiovascular medicine.
Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine (RCM) remains dedicated to publishing high‑quality, impactful research that advances the understanding, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. As Prof. Das highlighted, the journal values rigorous peer review, transparency, and continuous improvement—whether through increased original research contributions or refined editorial workflow. RCM also actively promotes special issues on cutting‑edge topics, such as “Molecular Targets and Protective Strategies in Cardiovascular Injury,” to foster academic exchange and translational innovation. We extend our sincere gratitude to Prof. Anindita Das for her invaluable contributions as an Editorial Board member and for sharing her profound insights with our readers. RCM will continue to work with leading scientists worldwide to serve the global cardiovascular community.
Journal Homepage: Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine
Scholars' Articles in our Journal: The Pleiotropic Role of the MicroRNA-17-92 Cluster in Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer