Understanding how arterial baroreceptors influence high blood pressure
Official title: Investigating Afferent Baroreflex Dysfunction in Hypertension
Funded at Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport · NIH-11382286 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project is exploring whether nerves that sense blood pressure in the arteries help drive drug-resistant high blood pressure, using mouse models to study this neural pathway.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Shreveport, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $239,800 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HL175100-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382286 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with drug-resistant hypertension or patients who have advanced BP regulation issues and could benefit from future neural-targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose hypertension is well-controlled by medications are less likely to directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project focuses on how sensory nerves in the aortic arch contribute to high blood pressure, especially in cases where medicines fail. The researchers will use a mouse model with selective targeting of arterial baroreceptors to understand their role in BP regulation. Findings could uncover new ways to lower blood pressure by addressing neural signals rather than just drugs. The work combines anatomy, neural signaling, and physiology to map how baroreceptors influence BP homeostasis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to novel targets for treating drug-resistant hypertension by modulating neural pathways that control blood pressure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies suggest baroreflex involvement in BP regulation, but selective targeting of arterial baroreceptors is a novel approach with uncertain outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport
Shreveport, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: El Saafien, Khalid — Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport
- Study coordinator: El Saafien, Khalid
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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.