Resistance Exercise Training for Blood Pressure and Blood Vessel Health in Middle-Aged Women
Official title: Resistance Exercise Training in Middle-aged Women Targeting Blood Pressure and Vascular Health
Funded at Univ of Maryland, College Park · NIH-11448163 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study will test whether 16 weeks of supervised resistance exercise can lower blood pressure and improve blood vessel health in women aged 40–64 with high blood pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $769,639 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MD021869-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448163 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women aged 40–64 with elevated blood pressure who are able to participate in supervised exercise.
✕Less likely to help
Women outside the 40–64 age range or those unable to safely participate in resistance training may not benefit.
What this research studies
This multi-site trial will enroll 200 middle-aged women with elevated blood pressure to compare 16 weeks of supervised resistance training versus doing no structured exercise. Participants will undergo ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and vascular health assessments to see how RET affects BP trajectories and vascular stiffness. The study focuses on how resistance exercise could offer a non-drug way to protect heart and brain health during midlife. Outcomes will inform how exercise programs can be tailored for women navigating menopause-related changes. All activities will be supervised to ensure safety and maximize potential benefits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide an effective non-pharmacologic option to reduce hypertension and improve vascular health in midlife women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous data suggest exercise can influence BP and vascular health, but this specific 16-week RET in midlife women with elevated BP is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Maryland, College Park
College Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ranadive, Sushant M — Univ of Maryland, College Park
- Study coordinator: Ranadive, Sushant 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.