Dr. Kamal Rahmouni, Professor in the Department of Pharmacology received a new Merit Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs for his project entitled “Neuronal Mechanisms of Obesity-Induced Hypertension”.  Obesity has become common in the US and among the VA population.  This is a problem because excess of fat is a major risk factor for the development of many serious medical conditions including high blood pressure (hypertension), a condition that leads to stroke, kidney failure, coronary artery disease and heart failure.  However, the mechanisms underlying obesity-induced hypertension remain poorly understood, hindering therapy.  Dr. Rahmouni' s project focuses on exploring the cellular and molecular processes by which the brain influence blood pressure and understand how dysregulation in these processes lead to hypertension in obesity.  This proposal should fundamentally advance our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular risks associated with obesity.