University of Missouri awarded $8.5 million to explore tiny vessels' role in cardiovascular diseases

One of the largest medical research grants ever awarded to the University of Missouri was announced by MU scientists and administrators. The National Institutes of Health grant will help answer important questions about such prevalent health problems as high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke. The conditions are closely associated with cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in Missouri and the nation. The $8.47 million program project grant from the NIH's National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute will fund an integrated research effort involving more than 20 scientists across campus. Their discoveries will further understanding of the smallest blood vessels in the body, collectively known as the microcirculation. How the miniscule vessels contribute to health and disease is a growing field of study for cardiovascular researchers