Research done here nationally respected By Joyce Terveen Argus Leader Staff Scott Campbell, PhD Demonstrates Equipment University of South Dakota researcher Martin Gerdes studies rats with high blood pressure in hopes of helping prevent heart failure in humans. Gerdes, the director of the Cardiovascular Institute at the University of South Dakota School of Medicne's Health Science Center at 1400 W. 22nd St., has studied the cellular and molecular mechanism of heart failure throughout his career. He has turned out papers accepted prestigious cardiac journals, furthering doctors' understanding and treatment of heart failure. The most recent study, expected to be released soon in the medical research arena, is one that treated rats suffering from high blood pressure with medications that are readily available to doctors.
Many people are under treated with drugs.
We have drugs that are very effective if given in proper doses. In many cases, many patients are not on drugs or are given doses that are too low. Gerdes will be one of four main researchers who will work at the Cardiovascular Research Institute. Research work also will continue at the Vermillion campus and at a lab at the Veterans Medical Center in Sioux Falls. Gerdes, who was giving media tours through the shiny new lab, said he is in contact with cardiologists and researchers in major centers around the country.