Research

Research in my lab is focused on the intrarenal regulation of the RAS in hypertension. My training in molecular genetics and renal physiology with emphasis on experimental hypertension has allowed focusing my efforts on investigating the functional role and the regulation of intrarenal RAS genes in the pathophysiology of hypertension and related renal morphological changes. In particular, investigating the role of prorenin and renin from collecting duct cells origin and their interaction with the prorenin receptor in the pathogenesis of high blood pressure. Other research includes the importance of elucidating the fundamental basis of the sex dependent differences in the intrarenal RAS that likely explain sex disparities in hypertension. I have pioneered the studies on the activation of collecting duct renin and prorenin during Ang II-dependent hypertension including cell-type localization and regulation of synthesis and secretion in rodent models.

Laboratory Members:

• Bruna Visniauskas, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow
• Michelle Galeas - PhD Student
• Justine Jorgensen - Undergraduate Student
• Andrew Curnow, BS - Medical Student (T3), Current DeBakey Scholar
• Thomas John, BS - Medical Student (T2), Current DeBakey Scholar