By Ruth Beran
Simon Malpas (left) is a principal investigator at the University of Auckland’s Circulatory Control Laboratory where he looks at the control of blood pressure, and in particular the mechanisms responsible for the development of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.
Ruth Beran went on a tour of the lab, and saw the unique wireless monitoring equipment developed at the University of Auckland used to monitor a number of cardiovascular variables such as blood pressure, sympathetic nerve activity, heart rate and blood flow for extended periods of time.
In particular, the telemetry-based equipment is being used to record sympathetic activity to the kidney during the development of hypertension. New information has emerged to indicate that sympathetic nerves are a key controller of the cardiovascular system in a variety of situations. While increases in sympathetic nerve activity may be important in the development of hypertension, little is known about how or why this translates to increased blood pressure.
Ultimately, Simon would like to gain an entirely new understanding of the development of hypertension over time in order to better treat humans.
