Anne-Maj Samuelsson Apel

I am interested in understanding the mechanisms by which early events during fetal and neonatal life may lead to long-term consequences to cardiovascular health. My primary research interests lie in the field of sympathetic mediated hypertension, to identify novel pathways and intervention during pregnancy and early life that may reverse/ameliorate heightened blood pressure in the offspring born to diet induced obese dams. Future prospects include the relevance to man by studying the relationship between maternal obeisty and childhood autonomic dysfunction in existing birth cohorts. 

Future directions: To study the role of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of hypertension. I will employ cutting-edge techniques, including bioelectronics (collaborator, Prof P. Olofsson, Ki, Sweden), patch clamp technique, MRI and pharmacogenetics for selective activation or inhibition of microglial and neuronal networks (collaborator, Prof. P Gressens, KCL, UK). Translational studies involving human blood pressure data, behavioural and urine samples will provide early markers of sympathetic hyperactivity and immune dysfunction (Prof Lucilla Poston, Division of Women’s Health, KCL, UK).