Center receives grant renewal for hypertension and vascular disease studies

"The country, and our region specifically, continues to suffer from high rates of mortality due to strokes and heart disease," Ferrario said. "An explosion of diabetes and obesity has aggravated the situation and demanded that we explore new approaches and medicines to reduce the risk of hypertension, treat obesity and diabetes, and develop new medicines that are specific and without side effects. Our new studies will pave the way for the development of new antihypertensive medicines that are directed to block the action of hormones that contribute to hypertension and diabetes.

"The renewal of our research program effort by the National Institutes of Health underscores the recognition of the eminent success of our researchers in advancing knowledge and treatment of hypertension and its complications," he added.

Co-investigators for the project are Ann Tallant, Ph.D., Patricia Gallagher, Ph.D., K. Bridget Brosnihan, Ph.D., William Strawn, D.V.M., Ph.D., Debra I. Diz, Ph.D., Marc C. Chappell, Ph.D. and Jasmina Varagic, Ph.D.

Media Relations Contacts: Jessica Guenzel, , (336) 716-3487; Bonnie Davis, , (336) 716-4977; or Shannon Koontz, , (336) 716-4587.

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (www.wfubmc.edu) is an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest University Physicians, and Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which operates the university's School of Medicine and Piedmont Triad Research Park. The system comprises 1,056 acute care, rehabilitation and long-term care beds and has been ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report since 1993. Wake Forest Baptist is ranked 32nd in the nation by America's Top Doctors for the number of its doctors considered best by their peers. The institution ranks in the top third in funding by the National Institutes of Health and fourth in the Southeast in revenues from its licensed intellectual property.