I was able to spend some of my summer break on a collaborative project with Dr Jasenka Zubcevic, in the Department of Physiological Sciences at University of Florida.
The primary aim of my visit was to complete experimental work, analyse data, discuss our findings and draft our first collaborative original research paper, on the way by which bone marrow inflammation contributes to the development of hypertension. Unexpectedly, this research visit has also provided us with the right opportunity to discuss some other very interesting observations and carry out pilot experiments. Those implicated the CNS into the pathway from bone marrow inflammation to hypertension and I’m super excited about them!
In addition to working with Jasenka, my visits to UF always include spending time with other research group leaders. This time round I had the pleasure to discuss scientific developments in the department, brainstorm and have a few drinks with some of my favourite people; Prof. Linda Hayward, Prof. Don Bolser, Dr Leah Reznikov and Dr. Dave Baekey.
My collaboration with Jasenka has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Physiological Society and the Medway School of Pharmacy staff research & development funding scheme.