Look to the person on your left. Now your right. Chances are one of those people, or maybe you yourself, are struggling with cardiovascular disease. According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of all American adults have heart troubles, and heart disease remains the leading cause of death for adults annually in the U.S.
This prevalence, and potential for meaningful impact, is exactly why Florida State University undergraduate Dev Sangha has focused his research on cardiovascular health. The New Jersey native and junior in the Department of Biological Science is incorporating innovation and accessibility in hopes of advancing care that can improve the health of millions.
“I consider my work as part of the life cycle of humanity, and I want this to help us care for each other,” said Sangha, who earned a 2025 IDEA Grant from FSU’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement to kick-start his research on the effects of heart disease.
Sangha’s dedication to care and community started long before he began his studies at FSU in 2023. Before college, he became a certified rescue scuba diver and a wilderness emergency medical technician. Once in Tallahassee, he began volunteering with Big Bend Hospice and the Alzheimer’s Project, a nonprofit supported by FSU’s Resources and Education for Aging, Community, and Health program that provides support to local families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease.
“It’s been so meaningful to see the impact my presence can have on patients’ experiences through my volunteer work,” said Sangha, who was named the College of Arts and Sciences’ honoree for the Undergraduate Humanitarian of the Year Award this spring. “Volunteering has a huge impact on my research because a lot of my patients have heart conditions, and more accessible cardiovascular research could really improve their care.”
On campus, Sangha volunteers with the Medical Response Unit, a project associated with University Health Services, the FSU Police Department, the Student Government Association and the Division of Student Affairs, which functions as a basic life-support and quick-response unit. The MRU exists as an additional safety net beyond the normal support provided by FSU PD and the community 911 system and can assist with medical emergencies during on-campus events.
“My volunteer work has changed my perspective on what it means to care for somebody. Caring for someone isn’t just giving them medicine or following a treatment plan; it can mean just being there, listening to them, and supporting a fellow community member.”
— Dev Sangha
He also serves as a learning assistant in chemistry classes and a co-leader of one of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program’s introductory colloquium classes, where he encourages students to push themselves and develop new skills while at FSU.
“I love chemistry, so I wanted to use my position as a learning assistant to help others enjoy it just as much,” Sangha said. “I also wanted to help students find their passion for research and guide them with their goals outside of the classroom through UROP.”
When he’s not volunteering or participating in programs like UROP, Sangha is conducting research in the Solís Laboratory to help scientists better understand properties of heart tissue, which change as disease progresses. The lab is led by Christopher Solís, an assistant professor in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences, part of the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.
“Dev has a strong ‘can-do’ mindset when learning new skills, whether it’s coding or building electronics,” Solís said. “He’s distinguished by his sharpness, self-drive, and how much he enjoys volunteering across campus.”
The team’s research aims to understand how long-term stress on the heart triggers abnormal changes such as scar tissue formation, among others, that can combine and lead to heart failure. These stressors include hypertension, which affects nearly half of U.S. adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and can stem from genetic causes such as gene mutations in addition to environmental conditions and lifestyle choices. The long-term goal of the Solís Laboratory is to find treatments that may help the heart back to a healthy state to extend patients’ quality of life.
“I hope to continue helping patients streamline their treatments through innovation,” Sangha said. “Being there for the patients and building a relationship with them during their treatment is just as essential to me.”
After his planned graduation in 2027, Sangha has his sights set on medical school and looks forward to combining empathy, innovation, and high-quality research in his pursuit of a career as a physician.
“My volunteer work has changed my perspective on what it means to care for somebody,” Sangha said. “Caring for someone isn’t just giving them medicine or following a treatment plan; it can mean just being there, listening to them, and supporting a fellow community member.”