Research Interest

In our lab, we are using classical and contemporary experimental approaches to explore the mechanisms leading to the development and cure of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. We hope that our translational research will bridge the gap between basic science and clinical research to answer clinically-oriented questions. Particularly we are focusing on the following:

Autonomic regulation of cardiovascular system in health and disease

Pathophysiology and experimental therapeutics of hypertension and related disease, including heart failure, renal failure, cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis

Research Projects

Neural mechanisms of cyclosporine induced hypertension (NIH)

Preventing hypertension and its cardiovascular sequeale (Project 2. Donald W Reynolds Foundation)

Neural Mechanisms of hypertension during chronic renal failure

Rat model of cardiac and renal fibrosis

Personnel

Robert Augustyniak, PhD

Min Luo, Ph.D.

Weiguo Zhang, PhD

Collaborations

We are always happy to provide as much help as we can to others.  Furthermore, we have received a great deal of help from numerous investigators and we currently have close contact with the following:

Thomas Sudhof, MD (UT Southwestern, Basic Neuroscience)

Jim Richardson, DVM, PhD (UT Southwestern, Molecular Pathology Core Lab)

Anne Dorrance, PhD (Medical College of Georgia, Physiology)

Joesph Zhou, MD (UT Southwestern, Nephrology)

Robert Toto, MD (UT Southwestern, Nephrology)

Patricia Preisig, PhD (UT Southwestern, Nephology)

Gail Thomas, PhD (UT Southwestern, Hypertension)

Wanpen Vongpatanasin, MD (UT Southwestern, Hypertension)

Mark Weiss, PhD (Kansas University, Physiology)

Christopher Newgard, PhD (Duke University)