Allyn Mark honored with American Heart Association research award

Allyn Mark, MD, has received what is widely considered the premier award in hypertension research: the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Excellence Award for Hypertension Research. Mark is a professor of internal medicine–cardiovascular medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, whose research has explored the roles of the brain and sympathetic nervous system in controlling blood pressure.

He was honored on Sept. 16 at the AHA Council on Hypertension in San Francisco, in a joint session with the Council on Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease and the American Society of Hypertension.

Mark gave remarks at the awards dinner and also presented his research: “Microneurographic studies of sympathetic neural mechanisms in human hypertension.”

“Our research looked at two major contributors to hypertension: obesity and high salt intake,” Mark said. “We wanted to understand why some individuals are sensitive and other individuals are resistant to the hypertensive effects of high salt intake, as well as recognize the underlying causes of hypertension caused by obesity.”

Mark was nominated for the award by Kamal Rahmouni, PhD, and Curt Sigmund, PhD, both of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.

Also honored for the same award was Richard J. Roman, PhD, Billy S. Gutyon distinguished professor and chair of pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Watch a video interview with Mark from the American Heart Association:

About the award

Established in 1966, the Excellence Award for Hypertension honors excellence in research and discoveries in the field of hypertension. Nominees are assessed by a committee on their impact in the field of hypertension throughout their careers, as well as any single discovery. The award and dinner were supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.