Two Neuroscientists Awarded 2026 Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships for Brain Health Research
The American Academy of Neurology and the American Heart Association have awarded $150,000 scholarships to Sarah Kettlety and Cali McEntee to study concussion recovery in children and the effects of exercise on brain aging, respectively.
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have named Sarah Kettlety, Ph.D., and Cali McEntee, Ph.D., as recipients of the 2026 Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships for Brain Health. Each researcher will receive a $150,000 two-year scholarship to advance scientific understanding of brain health, continuing the legacy of the late Dr. Ralph L. Sacco, the only neurologist to have served as president of both organizations.
Kettlety, a postdoctoral researcher at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, will investigate how childhood concussions affect long-term health. Her study focuses on changes in children's heart rates during exercise after a concussion. By analyzing heart-rate patterns, she aims to identify early signs of autonomic nervous system dysfunction that may predict prolonged recovery. "If doctors can identify those patients early, they may be able to offer more customized treatments to help them recover more quickly and fully," Kettlety noted in the announcement.
McEntee, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, will explore the connection between exercise and brain health. Her research centers on "exerkines," small substances released from muscles and fat during physical activity that may travel to the brain and enhance cognitive function. She seeks to determine which exerkines are most beneficial for maintaining memory and learning as people age, with potential applications for older adults and individuals with conditions like diabetes or obesity who may have limited ability to exercise.
The scholarships, now in their third year, are funded by a bequest from Sacco, who passed away in 2023 from a brain tumor. "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 AAN President Natalia S. Rost, M.D., M.P.H., FAAN, FAHA. AHA President Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, emphasized the importance of understanding the heart-brain connection: "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."
AHA CEO Nancy Brown highlighted Sacco's mentorship: "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. The AAN and AHA continue to support brain health research through initiatives like the Sacco Scholars program and the AAN's Brain Health Initiative. For more information, visit the American Heart Association at heart.org and the American Academy of Neurology at AAN.com.