How nerve signals contribute to high blood pressure in people with obesity
Sympathetic neural patterns and transduction in obesity-associated hypertension
Researchers are looking at how patterns of nerve firing cause blood vessels to tighten in adults with obesity-related high blood pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171351 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be asked to have small recordings or measurements of nerve activity and blood vessel responses while researchers compare people with obesity-related high blood pressure to others. The team will look for specific nerve firing patterns that increase release of neuropeptide Y (NPY) alongside norepinephrine and make vessels tighten more strongly. They will combine human physiologic measurements with laboratory and animal experiments to understand how NPY and adrenergic signals drive this response. The goal is to link what is seen in people to the mechanisms explored in the lab so future treatments can target the right pathways.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older with obesity-associated high blood pressure would be the ideal candidates for participation.
Not a fit: People whose hypertension is caused primarily by other conditions (for example certain kidney diseases), pregnant people, or children are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug targets or treatments that better control blood pressure in people with obesity-linked hypertension.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have shown that altered nerve firing and NPY release can worsen vasoconstriction, but translating these findings to people is relatively new and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hearon, Christopher M — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hearon, Christopher M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.