Ting-An Lin, a doctoral student in the Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program at UC Riverside, has been awarded a 2026 American Heart Association (AHA) Predoctoral Fellowship. The competitive two-year fellowship provides approximately $70,600 in funding to support doctoral research and training.

The fellowship will support Lin’s research investigating how microplastics exposure contributes to atherosclerosis, the artery-clogging process that leads to heart attacks and strokes. 

“Microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment and represent an emerging public health concern,” said Lin, who works in the lab of Changcheng Zhou, a professor of biomedical sciences in the School of Medicine. “However, their adverse effects on the cardiovascular system remain poorly understood. My research aims to address critical knowledge gaps regarding how microplastics may contribute to cardiovascular disease.”

Specifically, Lin’s research will focus on uncovering the underlying molecular mechanisms of atherogenesis, including vascular inflammation and cellular dysfunction induced by microplastics exposure. The findings could help advance understanding of environmental contributors to cardiovascular disease and inform future public health strategies, Lin said.

“I am grateful for the support from the AHA,” he said. “This fellowship will allow me to focus on developing independent research skills while advancing my training in cardiovascular and environmental health research.”