About
Meet our team
Founder & Medical Director
UT Health Houston: McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX
Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine University of HoustonDr. Asif Ali, MD — Founder & Medical Director
Dr. Asif Ali, MD, founded Cena Research Institute in 2014 with a vision to transform cardiovascular research through inclusive clinical trials and innovative med-tech validation. Under his leadership, CRI has become a recognized leader in clinical research, driven by a multidisciplinary team of MDs, PhDs, data scientists, and engineers.
Dr. Ali plays a key leadership role in the American Heart Association (AHA), serving as a research and mentoring hub in the AHA's digital innovation pipeline. He leads subcommittees on Remote Monitoring & Digital Coaching, Digital Therapeutics, and Care Planning & AI in Practice within the Health Tech Advisory Group (CHTI).
As co-lead of the AI Task Force subgroup on "AI in Practice" with deans from Yale, UT Southwestern, and Ohio State, Dr. Ali is at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence into cardiovascular medicine. He is also a co-author of the AI & Machine Learning Primer in Hypertension (AHA Journal, July 2024).
Dr. Ali's research focuses on inclusive clinical trials, emerging med-tech validation, and translational cardiovascular research. He has served as Principal Investigator or Site Principal Investigator on numerous clinical trials, including the Valencell Trial, EECP Trial, Thrive360 CBT Trial, and Target BP / Renal Denervation trial.
Our Team
CRI brings together multidisciplinary teams comprising:
MDs
Clinical expertise and patient care
PhDs
Research methodology and data analysis
Postgraduates
Advanced research and clinical support
Medical Students
Hands-on research experience and clinical training
Undergraduates
Research assistance and data collection
Data Scientists
Advanced analytics and interpretation
Engineers
Technical validation and innovation
This diverse team structure enables CRI to conduct comprehensive clinical trials that integrate clinical expertise with technological innovation, ensuring that our research translates into real-world health solutions.
What We Do
CRI conducts comprehensive clinical research across multiple domains:
Clinical Research
Invasive and noninvasive studies
Pharmaceutical Trials
Testing new medications and therapeutic interventions
Medical Technology Research
Validation of emerging medical devices and technologies
Research & Development
Innovation in cardiovascular care and treatment methodologies
Team Members
Scientific Advisory Board
Patrick Dunn, PhD/MS3/FAHA
MS/MBA/MSSE
Program Director, Center for Health Technology & Innovation, American Heart Association
Expertise: Exercise Physiology | Cardiac Rehabilitation | Health Literacy | Digital Coaching | Health Technology | Software Engineering | Performance Excellence
Sri Banerjee, PhD, MD, MBA, MPH, FACE, REHS
Faculty, School of Health Sciences, Walden University
William Monroe, PhD
Principal Investigators
Asif Ali, MD
Cardiovascular Medicine
Clinical Assistant Professor: UT McGovern & University of Houston: Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
Sajid Ali, MD
Interventional Cardiovascular Medicine
Clinical Assistant Professor: University of Houston: Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
Sub-Investigators
Abdul Ali, MD
Cardiovascular Medicine
Clinical Assistant Professor, UT McGovern
Vaseem Ali, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, UT McGovern
Scientific Officer
Caroline Pople, SMO
Location
Cena Research Institute is located in Houston, Texas, where we tap into diverse patient populations and premier medical hubs. Our location enables us to engage communities that are typically underrepresented in clinical trials, making our research more inclusive and impactful.
Founded
2014
Public & Professional Visibility
CRI is listed as a Houston-based research firm, with team bios mentioning AI, cardiovascular health, and med-tech integration. Our work has been featured via AHA, JPMorgan panels, and educational events.
CRI is described as "a leader in clinical research, driven by a multidisciplinary team of MDs, PhDs..." Our reputation reflects our commitment to inclusive, innovative, and impactful research.
Media Coverage
FOX 26 Houston (July 25, 2023): Dr. Asif Ali was featured in an interview about sudden cardiac death in student-athletes, following the Bronny James cardiac incident. The article, "'Get your kids screened': Local cardiologists send warning amid Bronny James cardiac incident," highlighted Dr. Ali's expertise as a preventative and imaging cardiologist, focusing on testing youth and adults for heart issues that could lead to sudden cardiac death. Dr. Ali emphasized the importance of screening young people for congenital heart problems, noting that "sudden cardiac arrest is the number one killer in student-athletes."