The Vascular Biology and Hypertension Program focuses on molecular and cellular approaches to important problems in cardiovascular medicine. Active in clinical trials include novel therapeutic agents for hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes/insulin resistance and obesity.

Focus

Fundamental aspects of hypertension and vascular biology research. Ongoing investigations include assessment of:

• the role of inflammation in the response to acute vascular injury and its modulation by sex hormones and peptide mimetics of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
• the role of natriuretic peptide signaling and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism in protecting against adverse remodeling in the pressure-overloaded heart
• the molecular pathogenesis of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular remodeling
• novel approaches to the treatment of resistant hypertension and atherosclerotic disease

In addition, the Program is active in clinical trials of novel therapeutic agents for hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes/insulin resistance and obesity.