The Heart Disease You've Never Heard Of; And the Blood Test That Could Stop It

Sogand Golshahian was a finalist in the 2026 UBC Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition. Sogand presented the research titled “The Heart Disease You’ve Never Heard Of; And the Blood Test That Could Stop It.” Millions of people around the world are infected with a disease that can silently damage the heart for decades before symptoms appear. By the time this damage is detected, it is often irreversible. Despite this risk, there is currently no reliable way to predict who will develop severe disease and who will remain healthy. This presentation explores how simple blood tests could reveal early immune warning signs long before organs begin to fail. By listening to these signals, this research aims to shift medicine from reacting to late-stage disease toward preventing it before lasting damage occurs. Sogand Golshahian is completing a MASc in Biomedical Engineering in the Department of Biomedical Engineering under the supervision of Dr. Kelly McNagny. #3MT is an academic competition that assists current graduate students with fostering effective presentation and communication skills. Participants have just three minutes to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience. For more information or to participate in UBC’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) visit https://3mt.grad.ubc.ca.