Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2003

Mentor: Ronald G. Victor, MD
Department: Internal Medicine
Room number: J4.134
Mail Code:8586
Phone number: 87950
E-mail:Ronald.victor@utsouthwestern.edu

Several Projects are available:

Project 1 title: Cutting Blood Pressure in Barbershops

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): NA

Project Type patient-based research
Brief Description of Project: We are testing the efficacy of a barbershop-based behavioral intervention to improve the awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in African American men, the demographic group with the greatest prevalence of hypertension and the worst control rates. We need students to work in three barbershops in south Dallas to educate the clients about their hypertension and its treatment and to help refer untreated clients for medical evaluation and treatment, and to measure blood pressures and administer questionnaires. The project runs through August, 2003.

Project 2 title: Pharmacogenomics of salt-dependent hypertension in African Americans

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): NA

Project Type patient-based research
Brief Description of Project: We are testing the hypothesis that a specific polymorphism in the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is a gain in function mutation accounting for some cases of salt-sensitive hypertension in African Americans. We are conducting a prospective case-control study in the Parkland GCRC to determine if this polymorphism identifies patients whose blood pressures are particularly responsive to amiloride, a specific ENaC blocker. Subjects are recruited from the Dallas Heart Study database and followed in the outpatient GCRC for an 8-week protocol. This is hands-on patient-oriented research with a molecular hypothesis.

Project 3 title: Neural mechanism of Cyclosporine-induced hypertension

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): NA

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Project Type basic animal research
Brief Description of Project: We are performing in vivo studies in genetic mouse models to study the mechanism by which cyclosporine and related immunosuppressive agents cause hypertension. Blood pressure is being measured continuously in unrestrained mice with implanted radiotelemetry devices in the central aorta. We are studying a series of knock out mice to test the hypothesis that cyclosporine reflexively activates the sympathetic nervous system by changing the phosphorylation state of specific neuronal proteins in sensory nerves that innervate the kidney.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

1. Jason Reingold-Doris Duke Student-abstracts at 2 UTSW meetings and 1 oral presentation at national meeting so far, manuscript in progress
2. Dan Martin-Doris Duke Student-abstracts, manuscript in progress
3. Mike McMullen-co-authored manuscript, presented oral presentation at national meeting
4. Leann Ermel-co-authored manuscript
5. Kami Banks-poster presentation at national meeting
6. Stacey Kim-manuscript in preparation this summer

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