Reducing blood pressure in mid-life adult binge drinkers: the role of microvascular function and sympathetic activity

University Of Texas Arlington, Arlington TX

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract This supplement supports the diversity candidate, a second-year doctoral student in Kinesiology, and fosters his research career development toward becoming a scientist in the field of vascular physiology and alcohol- related health research. The research training and professional development activities, under this supplement, are facilitated by a strategic mentoring plan and incorporated into the parent R00 project. The parent R00 grant has been targeting microvascular function and sympathetic nerve activity to understand the mechanisms underlying alcohol-attributable contribution to elevated systolic blood pressure and prevent the negative health consequences in mid-life adults. Nevertheless, binge drinking, the most common pattern of excessive alcohol use, can also cause elevated systolic blood pressure through increased arterial stiffness which, in theory, results in hemodynamic changes, such as enhance aortic wave reflection and carotid artery wave intensity. These hemodynamic changes play a significant role not only in blood pressure regulation but also in the function of the heart and the brain. Understanding alcohol-induced arterial stiffening and the related hemodynamic changes is significant because it helps predict the subsequent progression of organ injury by alcohol. The diversity candidate will complete the proposed research to address the overarching hypothesis – “chronic binge drinking contributes to the changes in aortic and carotid hemodynamic in mid-life adults due to arterial stiffness.” During the supplement period, the diversity candidate will receive mentored training with the PI of the parent project to enhance his knowledge and skills in alcohol use assessments and the harmful effect of binge drinking on arterial stiffness and hemodynamics. He will also receive mentored professional development to enhance his communication, leadership, and management skills, as well as professionalism. The PI is a female early-stage investigator and is committed to career and professional development for her trainees. The proposed training plan under this supplement will be facilitated by a senior faculty member, Dr. R. Matthew Brothers. This supplement will not only help facilitate the candidate’s progress toward his next stage of career, but also help enrich the PI’s reach program with the involvement of trainees from diverse backgrounds and establish her laboratory at the early stage of her career. In addition, increasing the number of scientists from non-traditional backgrounds (i.e., kinesiology) in the field of alcohol research will enhance the diversity of alcohol research, ultimately accelerating the pace of research in alcohol-related health. Therefore, this diversity supplement is consistent with the overarching mission and research priority areas of NIAAA.