• Clinical investigations and clinical trials of hypertension
• Biochemical and molecular biology of hypetrtension
• Microcirculation, renovascular and cardiovascular disease

A central theme of the work of the unit revolves around mechanisms controlling sodium excretion, particularly in the renal tubules; identification of molecular abnormalities that may occur in various ion transport mechanisms and whether they may be important in the development of high blood pressure. Current research combines molecular biology, biochemistry and population genetics. A major outcome of the recent work is the recognition of the importance of ethnic origin in biochemical studies of hypertension. This is underscored by the observation of ethnic- dependent differences in the distribution of candidate genes for hypertension and by our recent work on genes coding for the epithelial sodium channel and G-protein subunits (See recent publications).