Leaders at the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center at Indiana University School of Medicine work vigorously with faculty, staff and clinical collaborators to advance knowledge and medical breakthroughs in cardiovascular medicine that have the potential to improve the health of people living with heart disease and save more lives. They also help provide resources to primary and affiliate members of the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center and seek opportunities to collaborate with external partners around the world.
Rohan Dharmakumar, PhD
Executive Director of the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center
Rohan Dharmakumar, PhD, has served as the executive director of the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center (KCVRC) and the Charles Fisch Professor of Cardiology for the Indiana University School of Medicine since 2021. He holds multiple appointments with the university, including director for cardiovascular imaging research for the Indiana Institute for Biomedical Imaging Sciences and associate director for research for the IU Health-IU School of Medicine Cardiovascular Institute. With more than 25 years of experience in cardiovascular research, Dr. Dharmakumar is one of the pre-eminent thought leaders in the field, carrying out paradigm shifting research. Since his arrival two years ago, KCVRC has grown exponentially from two awards at inception to 29 active National Institutes of Health awards, and increased research funding by $21.6 million. Before he assumed leadership at KCVRC, Dr. Dharmakumar served as professor with the Department of Biomedical Science at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, director of translational cardiac imaging research and co-director of PET/MRI research, Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Linda Altmeyer, MPH
Director of Operations
As director of operations for the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center, Linda Altmeyer, MPH, has overseen the tremendous growth of KCVRC, from recruitment of investigators and staff to strategic initiatives and administrative goals. She has several years of experience in both higher education and not-for-profit management, having served IU School of Medicine as deputy director for the Center for Interprofessional Health Practice and Education and director of education for the Department of Radiology and as director of programs for the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Indianapolis. Ms. Altmeyer received a Master in Public Health with a focus on behavioral, social and community health and a Bachelor of Science in public health with a health administration concentration from Indiana University. She is a trusted leader who mentors talent and manages many details behind the scenes that range from logistics, financing and program management.
Ramesh Subramanian, PhD, MSC
Associate Research Professor of Medicine
Ramesh Subramanian, PhD, serves as the director of strategic initiatives at the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center and is an associate research professor for the Indiana University School of Medicine. He works closely with Dr. Dharmakumar to identify areas of strategic interests, develops programmatic grant proposals and spearheads the development of core resources for innovation in molecular biology. A molecular biologist by training, Dr. Subramanian has more than 10 years of administrative experience and expertise in center development and management. He received his Master of Science and PhD in genetics from Osmania University Hyderabad, India. At Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Subramanian served as assistant director of the Division of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, where he provided program coordination for three major National Institutes of Health-funded center grants, namely the statewide Louisiana Biomedical Research Network, COBRE Center for Experimental Infectious Disease Research and the COBRE Center for Pre-Clinical Cancer Research. During this period, he oversaw the review and funding approval of research proposals across a wide range of biomedical topics, management of core resources and periodic evaluation programmatic goals. Dr. Subramanian also served as associate director of the Pre-Clinical Evaluation Core, where he shared his expertise in organoid/spheroid development.
Suparna C. Clasen, MD, MSCE
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Suparna C. Clasen, MD, MSCE, assumes several responsibilities across Indiana University School of Medicine and IU Health. Dr. Clasen currently serves as director of clinical research operations for the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center and assistant professor of medicine for the IU School of Medicine and and medical director of cardio-oncology at IU Health. She provides several years of experience and research in cardiovascular care for oncology patients to the Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center. Since joining Indiana University School of Medicine and IU Health in 2019, Dr. Clasen established and led the IU Cardio-Oncology Program, which is recognized as a Gold Tier Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence by the International Cardio-Oncology Society. Before joining IU, she completed a T32-funded Master of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania. She completed fellowships at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, including cardio-oncology, Advanced echocardiographic imaging and Cardiovascular disease fellowships. Dr. Clasen also served as a Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine and completed her residency in internal medicine from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She is a graduate of the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine.