Delphine Gomez, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Tenured
Faculty Scholar, Vascular Medicine Institute
Director, Vascular Medicine Institute Training Program
Director, Vascular Medicine Institute Omics and Systems Biology Center
University of Pittsburgh
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, and Vascular Medicine Institute
Research Interests:
Vascular smooth muscle cell biology
Epigenetic regulation of vascular cell functions
Smooth muscle cell plasticity in Atherosclerosis and Aortic Aneurysm
Intersection of Epigenetics and mechanobiology in regulating SMC phenotype
Vascular development and SMC differentiation
NAVBO Activities:
Member since 2015, Councilor - 2020-2023, Vasculata - Organizer 2025, Vascular Biology Annual Meeting - Organizer: 2025 and 2026; Speaker: 2023, IVBM2022 - Session Co-chair; Springer Award Lecturer
Related Experience:
Councilor, Histochemical Society: 2021 – present
Member, Histochemical Society: Awards and Membership Committee
Former Member, American Heart Association, ATVB Council Member of the Vascular Discovery Meeting Program committee: 2018-2020
Former Member, American Heart Association, ATVB Council Member of the Women’s Leadership Committee: 2020 – 2024
Former Member, European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Member of the Working Group on Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology – 2020 – 2023
Editorial Boards: Vascular Pharmacology, ATVB, Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
NIH Study Section: Standing member on Integrative Myocardial Physiology/Pathophysiology B (MPPB): 2023 – present
Director, Vascular Medicine Institute Training Program: 2024 – present
Member, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Graduate Council: 2026 - present
Vision for NAVBO:
NAVBO holds a singular place in the landscape of vascular biology. For nearly three decades, it has been the home society for vascular biologists at all career stages, supporting their careers, shaping scientific directions, and building lasting collegial networks. As a member since 2015, a former Councilor, and a meeting organizer, I have experienced firsthand the exceptional scientific breadth and collegial spirit that define this community. That experience, coupled with a strong commitment to NAVBO's mission, drives me to seek the presidency and build on the foundation that has made this society thrive. My vision for NAVBO centers on three interconnected priorities.
Investing in the trainee community. The next generation of vascular biologists is NAVBO's most important asset. My experience as Director of the Vascular Medicine Institute Training Program and my involvement in the University of Pittsburgh’s graduate studies leadership taught me what trainees need to thrive: mentorship, visibility, career development opportunities, and a sense of belonging within a scientific society. I will expand trainee outreach and engagement by supporting career development resources, mentoring initiatives, and recognition opportunities. Trainees who feel invested in NAVBO early will become its most committed long-term members and leaders.
Broadening the scientific scope through interdisciplinary integration. NAVBO members have long defined the field through foundational contributions to endothelial and smooth muscle cell biology, mechanobiology, vascular development, and vascular disease research, building a scientific legacy recognized and respected worldwide. I will champion initiatives that broaden our scientific scope and foster cross-disciplinary dialogue. Exposure to emerging fields, expanding membership across a broader range of institutions, and joint initiatives with societies outside the traditional cardiovascular space will attract new members and promote interdisciplinary networks. NAVBO’s diverse expertise makes it the ideal society to lead this integration, and I will ensure our meetings and initiatives fully reflect that potential.
Strengthening NAVBO's community and membership. In a crowded landscape of cardiovascular societies, and at a time when institutional funding and research resources are increasingly constrained, NAVBO's distinct value lies in the collegial spirit of its community and its sustained support for trainees and junior investigators. I strongly believe that no other society replicates NAVBO’s strengths in quite the same way. A telling example: despite significant resource uncertainties, the 2025 Vasculata Meeting, hosted at the University of Pittsburgh, broke records for abstract submissions and drew remarkable trainee attendance from across the country, a testament to NAVBO's standing within our scientific community. If elected, I will work to further articulate and communicate NAVBO's distinct identity to current and prospective members, retain the scientists who are our backbone, and attract new members who will bring fresh perspectives to the society.
NAVBO has been instrumental to my career, and I am deeply committed to its mission. I would be honored to serve as President and to work alongside the Council and members, especially the next generation of vascular biologists, to carry this society forward.