University of Kentucky's cardiovascular scientist recognized for excellence in hypertension research

Lisa Cassis, Ph.D., a professor in the College of Medicine's Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health since joining the UK faculty in 1988.

Cassis, in collaboration with colleagues at UK, discovered that the RAS contributes to certain vascular diseases, like atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and aortic aneurysms. Another important finding by her UK research program showed that a component of the RAS is made in fat in our bodies. For her scientific contributions, the American Heart Association's Council on Hypertension will honor Cassis with a 2023 Excellence Award for Hypertension Research. The council's most prestigious award recognizes researchers who have had a major impact in this field.

"Through the course of studying the peptide angiotensin, which is part of RAS, Dr. Alan Daugherty and I found that angiotensin could promote aortic aneurysms. It was an unexpected finding. Aortic aneurysm is a terrible disease with no drug therapies," said Cassis. Throughout her studies, Cassis also found that the fat surrounding the aorta had ramifications on the artery's function. Other scientists have continued to investigate fat surrounding organs and vessels, including Stephanie Watts, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, who wrote one of Cassis' nomination letters.

Cassis will receive the award at the AHA's Hypertension 2023 Scientific Sessions held in Boston, Massachusetts, from Sept. 7-10. She will also give a presentation on the major findings from her research over the years and share thanks to the AHA, NIH, Kentucky's congressional delegation, colleagues at UK, trainees and her entire family for their dedicated support.

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