Rudic Laboratory

Circadian Rhythm and
Vascular Biology Research

In the cardiovascular system, there are known 24-hour rhythms in blood pressure, heart rate, and blood vessel contractility--circadian rhythms. Seminal observations in mice have uncovered the molecular basis of circadian rhythms in behavioral function. However it remains unknown how and if these signals contribute to the rhythms in cardiovascular function. Moreover, if an 'exploding clock' might contribute to the evolution of human disease is unknown. Using in vitro and in vivo models, we seek to examine the role of the circadian clock in normal and pathophysiologic cardiovascular function.