Kurt Stenmark, MD
Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics
Professional Profile

Leading the Vanguard of Discovery 
For nearly five decades, the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research Laboratory (CVP) has stood at the forefront of discovery in pulmonary vascular biology - an interdisciplinary home where curiosity, rigorous science, and deep commitment to patients come together. Our mission is to unravel the mechanisms that drive pulmonary hypertension and related cardiopulmonary diseases, translating fundamental insights into transformative therapies. From pioneering work in high-altitude physiology to establishing the neonatal calf model, advancing nitric oxide therapy, and uncovering the critical roles of vascular inflammation, fibroblast biology, and complement signaling, our laboratory has helped reshape the global understanding of pulmonary vascular disease. Today, our work spans molecular, cellular, biomechanical, and spatial-omics platforms, enabling us to define the complex niches that sustain vascular injury and identify new targets for intervention. Equally central to our mission is cultivating the next generation of scientists and physician-scientist trainees whose creativity and dedication ensure that the CVP remains a thriving engine of innovation. As we look ahead, we remain guided by the same driving principles that shaped our earliest days: scientific excellence, collaboration, compassion for patients and families, and an unwavering commitment to discovery that improves lives.