Dr. Vahedi received a W. W. Smith Charitable Trust Research Award.

The W. W. Smith Charitable Trust funds basic science research in the areas of heart disease, cancer and AIDS. The philosophy of the Trust has been not to replicate governmental funding organizations, but identify and fund projects that are unique and meritorious. The Trust tries to select promising researchers that have the potential to attract the National Institutes of Health, or other large funding organizations after the Trusts support. There is a strong commitment to encourage new or less recognized investigators to apply for funding.

2020