Science News from #Hypertension26

In this Hypertension 2026 interview with Council on Hypertension Chair Jane Reckelhoff, PhD, FAHA, Volker Haase of Vanderbilt University discusses the discovery of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signaling, its role in oxygen sensing, and its implications for kidney disease. He highlights how advances in HIF biology led to new therapies for anemia in chronic kidney disease and discusses emerging applications in kidney cancer and other diseases. The conversation also explores scientific career development, research funding, and the importance of collaboration in advancing translational science.

In this interview with Hypertension 2026 Program Committee Chair Steven Crowley, MD, keynote lecturer Camilo Jimenez, MD, discusses how research into hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signaling led to a new treatment approach for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. He highlights the connections among oxygen-sensing pathways, catecholamine excess, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, and reflects on the decades-long scientific journey that culminated in an FDA-approved therapy.

Gianfranco Parati, MD, Rama Mukkamala, PhD and Dean Picone, PhD discuss the evolving science of blood pressure measurement, from validated cuff-based methods to emerging wearable and smartphone technologies. They evaluate the promise and limitations of cuffless monitoring and the potential role of digital technologies in hypertension screening and management, while emphasizing the need for clinical trial evidence that new devices can improve clinical outcomes before they are adopted for routine patient care.

Jenifer Brown, MD speaks with Jamie Dwyer, MD and Greg Hundemer, MD, MPH about emerging aldosterone-targeted therapies and the growing recognition of aldosterone-driven hypertension. The discussion explores new clinical trial data on aldosterone synthase inhibitors, the concept of subclinical primary aldosteronism, and how biomarker-guided approaches may advance personalized hypertension treatment. They also discuss the potential implications for cardiovascular and kidney outcomes and the evolving role of targeted therapies in hypertension management.

Stephanie Watts Career Development Award finalist Mohammad Saleem, PhD, discusses how dietary salt and immune activation may contribute to salt-sensitive hypertension and describes research aimed at translating those insights into more personalized approaches to treatment.

In this interview, conducted by last year's Stephanie Watts Career Development Award winner  Daniel Fehrenbach, PhD, Swati Sharma, PhD, discusses the research she presented for the competition this year, which focused on the role of microglia in chronic kidney disease and their potential contribution to sympathetic nervous system overactivity.

Heddwen Brooks, PhD interviews Monica Santisteban, PhD, this year's recipient of the Harry Goldblatt New Investigator Award, about her research on the links between hypertension, cerebrovascular injury, cognitive decline, and dementia. Santisteban shares insights into her scientific journey, the importance of controlling blood pressure in midlife to protect long-term brain health, and advice for early-career investigators pursuing innovative research.

In this interview, Annet Kirabo, DVM, MSc, PhD, FAHA, recipient of the Established Investigator Award for Clinical Hypertension Research, sponsored by Sky Labs, Inc., joins Jane Reckelhoff, PhD to discuss her scientific journey, from her early education in Uganda to becoming a leader in hypertension research. Dr. Kirabo highlights her work investigating immune and inflammatory mechanisms that contribute to blood pressure regulation, sex differences in hypertension risk, and the cardiovascular effects of glucocorticoid exposure.

Jordy Cohen, MD speaks with Sadiya Khan, MD about the new cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome guideline and its implications for the management of hypertension. The discussion explores how CKM syndrome provides a framework for assessing cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic risk, the role of PREVENT™ risk equations in guiding treatment decisions, and how emerging therapies can address multiple risk factors simultaneously. Dr. Khan also discusses practical strategies for implementing a more holistic, multidisciplinary approach to risk assessment and prevention in clinical practice.

Tammy Brady, MD, PhD and Joseph Flynn, MD, MS discuss the long-term cardiovascular impact of hypertension beginning early in life. The interview explores challenges in accurate blood pressure measurement in children, the need for improved devices for pediatric and pregnant populations, and emerging evidence linking birth history and the intrauterine environment to future hypertension risk. Together, they highlight the importance of a life-course approach to cardiovascular prevention, emphasizing how early-life factors can shape cardiovascular health well into adulthood.

Heddwen Brooks, PhD speaks with Michael A. Weber, MD about a post-hoc analysis of the PRECISION study, which evaluated aprocitentan, a novel endothelin receptor antagonist, in patients with uncontrolled hypertension despite guideline-directed triple therapy. The discussion highlights the rationale for targeting the endothelin pathway, the study’s diverse patient population, and key findings showing consistent blood pressure reductions across multiple clinical subgroups.

Jennifer Cluett, MD and Jacob Stein, MD discuss the evolving role of renal denervation in the management of difficult-to-control hypertension. Using a real-world patient case, they explore patient selection, long-term blood pressure outcomes, the importance of multidisciplinary hypertension care, and ongoing efforts to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from the procedure. The conversation also highlights emerging evidence, unanswered research questions, and the growing range of treatment options for hypertension.