Dr. Mario Gil awarded NIH K01 Grant
Dr. Mario Gil awarded an NIH K01 grant to study heart regulating systems that underlie neural regulation of psychosocial stress responses
Dr. Mario Gil, assistant professor at the UTRGV Department of Psychological Sciences and one of our RGV AD-RCMAR Scientist was awarded a K01 grant to test the hypothesis that Avpr1a V1AR gene expression patterns predict arginine-vasopressin effects on psychosocial-stress in an animal myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury model.
The purpose of the NIH K01 program is to provide support and protected time for an intensive, supervised career development experience in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences leading to research independence. Some NIH Institutes use the K01 to enhance workforce diversity, or for individuals who propose to train in a new field, or for individuals who have had a hiatus in their research careers.
This K01 grant stems from Dr. Gil’s pilot research at the RGV AD-RCMAR, where he focused on the neurobiology of social behavior and social stressors in older Hispanics. The proposed study will explore the therapeutic potential of arginine-vasopressin, acting via the V1A receptor, in treating stress-associated cardiovascular conditions.
We congratulate Dr. Gil for this award, and we hope this project will open more research opportunities for him and strengthen his career in minority aging research.
Gladys E. Maestre, MD, PhD.
Director, RGV AD-RCMAR
