WBUR Interview-Dr. Richard Wainford on Salt-Sensitive Gene Discovery
Dr. Richard Wainford spoke with Carey Goldberg on WBUR today regarding his study connecting salt sensitivity to mutations in the GNAI2 gene. He noted that 1 in 2 adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure and, according to this study, “if you have this mutation . . . you’re three times more likely to be salt sensitive than patients that don’t . . .” This is a promising new discovery for clinicians who currently have no way to identify patients who may be salt-sensitive and at risk for “the associated adverse cardiovascular outcomes.” The details of this study were published in June 15, 2018 issue of Physiological Genomics.
Dr. Wainford, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and member of the BU Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, is the Director of the Laboratory for Cardiovascular-Renal Research. His research is supported by funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.