A new project aiming to develop a novel way to treat high blood pressure has received £125,000 from the Scottish Funding Council.
The research is being led by DIOKA Therapeutics, a pre-spinout company from the University of Aberdeen, and is focused on medicines that work with the body's natural systems to stabilise blood pressure.
Dr Robert Banks, Chief Scientific Adviser at DIOKA Therapeutics and an Academic Visitor in our Biosciences Department, has played a key role in developing the science behind the project.
Tackling high blood pressure
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the leading cause of early death worldwide.
Current treatments can be ineffective or cause unpleasant side effects, which often results in patients stopping their medication within a year.
The DIOKA team hope to overcome these challenges by using a unique approach that activates the body's natural sensors to control blood pressure more effectively.
Dr Banks' vital role
A long-standing researcher in sensory physiology, Dr Banks has worked closely with colleagues at Aberdeen to explore how the body detects and responds to changes in pressure.
Reflecting on the project, Dr Banks said: "It is very pleasing to think that our curiosity-led research may lead to important practical health benefits.
"We have identified several possible drug compounds that will now be tested for their ability to safely and effectively lower blood pressure in animal models."
Real-world impact
The new funding will allow DIOKA to test their promising compounds beyond the lab, checking how well they reduce blood pressure in living systems and whether they are safe enough to move towards clinical trials.
If successful, the medicines would represent the first therapy to specifically target the body's natural blood pressure control mechanism.
