Patrick J. Mueller, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Wayne State University School of Medicine's Department of Physiology, received the New Investigator Award from the Neural Control of Autonomic Regulation Section of the American Physiological Society. The award was presented at the recent Experimental Biology '09 meeting in New Orleans.
The award, consisting of $1,000, recognizes an outstanding investigator in the early stages of his career.
"I am honored to have received this award and accept it on behalf of my laboratory, the Department of Physiology and the members of the Neural Control of Cardiorespiratory Function group at Wayne State University," Dr. Mueller said. "I would like to recognize my previous and current mentors who have helped guide me to this point in my career, and I proudly share this award with them as well."
Dr. Mueller specializes in the research of neural control of blood pressure, and exercise and physical inactivity dependent neuroplasticity. He joined the School Medicine in March 2007.
His research to date has focused on how the brain controls arterial blood pressure.
"The brain contributes significantly to several cardiovascular-related complications, including hypertension," Dr. Mueller said. "Most recently, I have become interested in how brain areas that control our blood pressure adapt to regular exercise versus sedentary conditions."
This research has obvious health-related implications given the beneficial effects of exercise and detrimental effects of physical inactivity on the cardiovascular system, he said.
Data from the laboratory of Dr. Mueller and others suggest that the brain neurons that control blood pressure are altered in their structure, function and input depending on whether individuals exercise regularly. This neuroplasticity may help explain why people who lead sedentary lifestyles are more likely to die of cardiovascular disease, and how regular exercise may improve this outcome in individuals susceptible to cardiovascular disease, Dr. Mueller explained.