Naomi Chesler

Naomi Chesler, Ph.D., is the Chancellor’s Inclusive Excellence and Edwards Lifesciences Foundation Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She also directs the UCI Edwards Lifesciences Foundation Cardiovascular Innovation and Research Center (CIRC). Her research integrates mechanical engineering, vascular biology, and imaging tools to study cardiovascular physiology, particularly focusing on right ventricular function, pulmonary hypertension, and sex differences in heart disease. Chesler’s work emphasizes translational applications, including stem cell-engineered vascular grafts and computational models predicting vascular dynamics. She has pioneered studies on pulmonary vascular distensibility as a clinical biomarker and has contributed to understanding how estrogen influences pulmonary vascular health. Chesler actively promotes diversity in academia, co-authoring papers on equitable hiring strategies and serving on national panels for cardiovascular research guidelines.

Her research spans preclinical studies in rodents and macaques, human clinical trials involving veterans and preterm-born adults, and computational modeling of hemodynamics. Key innovations include defining phenotypic subgroups in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) using RV-pulmonary artery coupling metrics and developing non-invasive methods to assess pulmonary vascular stiffness during exercise. Chesler’s lab collaborates across disciplines, combining biomechanical experiments with advanced imaging (MRI, PET) and machine learning for predictive analytics.

Professional contributions include co-authoring NIH-funded grants, serving on editorial boards for Comprehensive Physiology and Frontiers in Bioengineering, and leading workshops on systemic approaches to health disparities. Her educational initiatives include a novel course integrating computational modeling with cardiovascular physiology instruction.