Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Canada
Dr. Javad Heshmati is a postdoctoral fellow and CIHR Health System Impact Fellow whose research advances the science and practice of smoking and vaping cessation in cardiovascular populations. His work integrates evidence generation, clinical practice, and public engagement to inform personalized interventions and reduce cancer and cardiovascular risk. Over the past year, he has authored or co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications, contributed to multiple randomized controlled trials, and played a central role in developing and disseminating national clinical guidelines. In recognition of his impact, he was named the 2025 Ottawa Region Cardiovascular Trainee of the Year.
Dr. Heshmati led the first systematic review and meta-analysis of vaping cessation interventions, published in BMJ Tobacco Control in 2024. This landmark study, which received national media attention, directly shaped public health messaging, informed revisions to the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation, and laid the foundation for future clinical trials. He also contributed as a panelist and co-author of the 2025 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Clinical Practice Update on Smoking Cessation, presented these findings at national conferences, and will deliver a plenary session at the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin.
In addition to research leadership, Dr. Heshmati actively mentors graduate and medical students, fostering capacity-building and supporting first-author publications and conference presentations. He leads core components of ongoing randomized trials on vaping cessation and co-designs new trials exploring innovative pharmacological approaches, including GLP-1 receptor agonists. His commitment to public engagement is evident through knowledge translation activities, such as developing plain-language infographics and presenting research at community and patient-centered events. Through these combined efforts, Dr. Heshmati continues to shape clinical practice, policy, and research on tobacco and nicotine-related harm at both national and global levels.