Current Research
Impact of Estrogen on Vascular Function in Women
The purpose of this study is to learn more about blood vessel function in women. With advancing age, blood vessel function declines and cardiovascular disease risk increases. A reduction in estrogen with age may contribute to the decline in blood vessel function. We are interested in understanding how changes in estrogen can impact the mechanisms that regulate blood vessel function. We are recruiting young and postmenopausal women for this study. Women will undergo a short duration hormone intervention, and have blood vessel function assessed at baseline and after 7 days of estrogen exposure. This research is being funded by the American Heart Association.
Mechanisms contributing to hypertension in postmenopausal women
The prevalence of hypertension increases in women after menopause. Data in pre-clinical animal models indicates that females may need alternate forms of therapy to lower blood pressure. One way blood pressure can be lowered is by reducing the amount of constriction of the blood vessels. Endothelin-1 is a potent vasoconstriction that has been implicated in the development of hypertension. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of ET-1 in contributing to hypertension in postmenopausal women, and how this substance interacts with other common constricting agents involved in hypertension. This research is funded by the National Institutes of Health.