ÍøºìºÚÁÏ

The American Heart Association recently selected University of Florida pharmacist Rhonda Cooper-DeHoff, Pharm.D., to receive a New Investigator Award.

Cooper-Dehoff is assistant director of clinical trials and a research assistant professor in the division of cardiovascular medicine at UF’s College of Medicine.

She was chosen for the award on the basis of a research presentation she made at the AHA’s Scientific Conference on Molecular, Integrative and Clinical Approaches to Myocardial Ischemia on Aug. 9 in Seattle. She received $500.

Her talk focused on findings from a large international trial comparing therapies for hypertensive patients who have coronary artery disease. Cooper-Dehoff reported that after a year of treatment, the percentage of patients who had their blood pressure under control increased by more than 30 percent. It is well-known that patients with diabetes, many of whom have hypertension, are at high risk for stroke, heart attack or death.

Researchers with the Internet-based International Verapamil SR/Trandolapril Study are seeking to show treatment based on calcium antagonists is at least as effective as standard therapy using beta-blockers and diuretics.

Calcium antagonists are widely used to increase the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart, decreasing blood pressure and reducing the heart’s workload. Beta-blockers reduce the heart's work load, slowing heart rate and reducing the force of contractions; diuretics help lower blood pressure.

The INVEST study includes 862 investigators and 22,599 patients worldwide.