05/07/2008

Julie Kretzer Named American Physiological Society Undergraduate Summer Research Fellow

Julie Kretzer, a biology student in the College of Arts & Sciences, was named an American Physiological Society Undergraduate Summer Research Fellow in 2008 and will be competing for the David S. Bruce Undergraduate Research Award with her research next April at the 2009 Experimental Biology Conference in New Orleans.

Kretzer was one of 24 recipients nationally to be honored by this prestigious fellowship. Jeffrey Osborn a professor in the Department of Biology is her faculty host. 

“This American Physiological Society Fellowship provides me with a tremendous opportunity to focus upon basic research during the summer. It is extremely exciting to think that these kinds of opportunities exist for students coming from regions like Eastern Kentucky. Before coming to UK, I would have never dreamed that these kinds of experiences would be available to students like me," Kretzer said.

Nitric Oxide (NO), is a potent hormone produced by blood vessels lining the circulatory system and this hormone causes blood vessels to relax. When blood vessels relax, the flow of blood to organs increases and the resistance to blood flow decreases and therefore blood pressure goes down. The sympathetic nerves cause blood vessels to constrict and increase blood pressure. Kretzer’s research is focused on the interactions between NO and sympathetic neural control of blood flow to the kidneys. In particular, the deep portions of the kidney are known to be important controllers of kidney function and blood pressure. The fellowship awarded to Kretzer will investigate how NO may influence the sympathetic nerve mediated kidney blood flow responses and consequently overall blood pressure control and the development of hypertension.

AMSTEMM - Appalachian & Minority Science, Technology Engineering, & Mathematics Majors