GENETICS, EXERCISE AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN HYPERTENSIVES

约翰霍普金斯大学（JHU）生物物理学博士，马里兰大学（UMSOM）医学博士，在JHU和NIA/GRC接受过老年学博士后临床和研究培训，并获得NIA老年学博士后临床和研究培训，为该候选人的老年学学术生涯做好了准备。该候选人是UMSOM的医学副教授，拥有10年的患者导向研究经验，研究减肥和有氧运动训练（AEX）对老年男性和女性脂蛋白和葡萄糖代谢以及心血管功能的影响。该候选人在BVAMC GRECC指导临床研究，是VA Merit Review拨款的PI，也是UMSOM胡椒中心的共同PI。该候选人曾指导17名学员进行以患者为导向的研究。获得此K24奖将为候选人提供额外的保护时间，用于研究和指导老年医学博士研究员，博士后博士研究员和其他以患者为导向的临床研究的学员。候选人的长期目标是建立一个国家认可的卓越研究中心，研究基因-环境相互作用及其对老年人心血管疾病（CVD）预防和治疗的影响。研究：先前的研究表明，血管紧张素转换酶（ACE） DD基因变异存在于25- 30%的人群中，增加了患高血压、中风和心血管疾病的风险。研究假设，在老年高血压患者中，与ACE ID和II基因型相比，ACE DD多态性会减弱AEX对血压、脂蛋白和糖代谢以及心血管功能的有益作用。这一假设将在一项临床试验中进行验证，该试验将比较6个月AEX对ACE DD、ACE ID和II基因型老年高血压患者的血压、血压对精神压力的反应（心血管反应）、代谢功能（脂蛋白、葡萄糖钳）和内皮功能的影响。学员将参与本研究的各个方面，并学习如何设计和实施临床研究，以增强我们对基因-环境相互作用在调节AEX降压效果以及改善老年高血压患者代谢和心血管功能方面的认识。这项研究可能会导致基于基因型的有针对性的生活方式和药物治疗，以治疗老年患者的高血压和心血管疾病。

A Ph.D. biophysics from Johns Hopkins University (JHU), a MD from the University of Maryland (UMSOM), with postdoctoral clinical and research training in gerontology at JHU and NIA/GRC, and a NIA KO8 with postdoctoral clinical and research training in gerontology prepared the candidate for an academic career in gerontology. The candidate, an Associate Professor of Medicine at the UMSOM has 10 years of experience performing patient oriented research into the effects of weight loss and aerobic exercise training (AEX) on lipoprotein and glucose metabolism, and cardiovascular function in older men and women. The candidate directs clinical research at the BVAMC GRECC, is PI on a VA Merit Review grant, and co-PI on the UMSOM Pepper Center. The candidate has mentored 17 trainees in patient oriented research. Receipt of this K24 award will provide the candidate additional protected time for research and mentoring of gerontology MD fellows, postdoctoral Ph.D. fellows, and other trainees in patient oriented clinical investigations. The candidate's long term goal is to establish a nationally recognized center of excellence for research into gene-environment interactions and their influence on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the elderly. Research: Prior studies demonstrate that the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) DD gene variant present in 25-30 percent of the population increases the risk for hypertension, stroke and cardiovascular disease. The study hypothesis is that in older hypertensive individuals, the ACE DD polymorphism will blunt the beneficial effects of AEX on BP, lipoprotein and glucose metabolism, and cardiovascular function compared to individuals with the ACE ID and II genotypes. This hypothesis will be tested in a clinical trial that will compare the effects of 6 months of AEX on BP, the BP response to mental stress (cardiovascular reactivity), metabolic function (lipoproteins, glucose clamp) and endothelial function in older hypertensives with the ACE DD versus ACE ID and II genotypes. Trainees will participate in all aspects of this research and learn how to design and implement clinical investigations that enhance our knowledge of gene-environmental interactions in moderating the effectiveness of AEX in lowering BP, and in improving metabolic and cardiovascular function in older hypertensive patients. This research may lead to targeted lifestyle and pharmacologic therapies based on genotype to treat hypertension and CVD in older patients.