How salt affects blood pressure regulation in the brain
Official title: Forebrain electroneutral transporters in salt-sensitive hypertension
Funded at University of Delaware · NIH-11098749 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how eating too much salt can raise blood pressure by affecting certain areas of the brain, and it's for anyone who wants to understand more about how salt sensitivity can impact their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Delaware NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 8, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $627,861 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL163906-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11098749 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults who experience hypertension that worsens with high salt intake.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have hypertension or those whose blood pressure is not affected by dietary salt may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how excess dietary salt intake influences blood pressure through specific brain mechanisms. It focuses on the role of certain brain regions that detect sodium levels and how this detection affects sympathetic nerve activity and arterial blood pressure. By studying both human and animal models, the research aims to uncover the pathways that lead to increased blood pressure in individuals sensitive to salt. The findings could help identify new targets for treating salt-sensitive hypertension.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better treatments for individuals with salt-sensitive hypertension, potentially reducing their risk of cardiovascular disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding brain mechanisms related to sodium sensing can lead to significant advancements in managing hypertension, indicating a promising direction for this study.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Delaware
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wenner, Megan M — University of Delaware
- Study coordinator: Wenner, Megan M
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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.