Department of Internal Medicine

Cardiovascular Medicine Faculty

Francois M. Abboud, M.D.
Edith King Pearson Chair in Cardiovascular Research
Professor of Medicine and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
Director, Cardiovascular Research Center
Associate Vice President for Research
Former Head, Department of Internal Medicine (1976-2002)

Research interests are directed toward the neural regulation of the circulation. Specific studies examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms of mechanical activation of baroreceptor neurons and the role of stretch-activated ion channels in the generation of baroreceptor nerve activity in isolated neurons and in transgenic mice.

Human studies have focused on the integrated control of sympathetic activity in physiologic and pathologic states (e.g., sleep apnea and hypertension).

Dr. Abboud directs an interdisciplinary cardiovascular research training program and a Program Project Grant on Integrative Functions in Neurovascular Control, now in its 32nd year. He has been director of the Cardiovascular Research Center since 1974.

Francois Abboud photo

Medical School:
Aims Chams University, Egypt

Residency:
Milwaukee County Hospital

Fellowship:
Marquette University
The University of Iowa

Honors, Awards, and Organizations

American Association for the Advancement in Sciences
American Medical Association
American Association for University Professors
Society of the Sigma XI
American College of Physicians (Master,1991)
American Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 1962 (Council, 2003-)
Association of University Cardiologists
American Society of Clinical Investigation
American College of Cardiology (Distinguished Scientist Award in Basic Science, 2004)
Associate Editor Physiology in Medicine ( Annals of Internal Medicine ), 2002-2005
Association Patient-Oriented Research (Founding Member, 2000)
ASPET Award for Experimental Therapeutics, American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 1972
Alpha Omega Alpha (Honorary)
Award for Outstanding Work in Science as related to Medicine of American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, 2000
Carl Ludwig Distinguished Lecturer (American Physiological Society), 2000
Research Achievement Award of American Heart Association, 1999
American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1997 (Regional Council, 2003)
Advisory Council National Heart Lung & Blood Institute, 1995-99
Gold Heart Award, American Heart Association, 1995
Honorary Doctor of Science, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1994
Robert H. Williams Distinguished Chairman of Medicine Award, Association of Professor of Medicine, 1993
Frances Gilman Blake Award, Association of American Physicians, 1992
Distinguished Service Award, Central Society for Clinical Research, 1992
Doctor Honoris Causa diploma, University of Lyon, France, 1991
President, American Heart Association, 1990-91
President, Association of American Physicians, 1990-91
CIBA Award for Hypertension Research, 1990
Carl J. Wiggers Award (American Physiological Society)
Institute of Medicine (National Academy of Sciences), 1988
President, Central Society for Clinical Research, 1986
Editor-in-Chief, Circulation Research (American Heart Association), 1981-86
Co-Editor, Handbook of Physiology: Peripheral Circulation & Organ Blood Flow, (American Physiological Society), 1983
Editor, Neurogenic Control of the Circulation (American Physiological Society), 1982
Editorial Advisory Board, Clinical Autonomic Research, 1990
Editor-in-Chief, Proceedings of the Association of American Physicians, 1995-99
Associate Editor, Advances in Internal Medicine, 1991-96
Consulting Editor, Circulation Research, 1991-
Associate Editor, Hypertension, American Heart Association, 1989-90
Editorial Board, Medicine, 1992-
Editorial Board, American Journal of Physiology, 1976-81
Editorial Board, Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1971-76
Editorial Board, Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, 1969-73
Associate Editor, Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, 1970-73
President, American Federation for Clinical Research, 1971

Recent Publications

Drummond, H.A., Price, M.P., Welsh, M.J., and Abboud, F.M.: A Molecular Component of the Arterial Baroreceptor Mechanotransducer. Neuron, 21:1435-1441, 1998.
Bielefeldt, K., Whiteis, C.A., Chapleau, M.W., and Abboud, F.M.: Nitric Oxide Enhances Slow Inactivation of Voltage-Dependent Sodium Currents in Rat Nodose Neurons. Neurosci. Lett., 271(3):159-162, 1999.
Yermolaiva, O., Leonard, A.S., Schnizler, M.K., Abboud, F.M., Welsh, M.J.: Extracellular Acidosis Increases Neuronal Cell Calcium by Activating Acid-Sensing Ion Channel 1a. PNAS 101(17):6752-6757, 2004 Apr 27.
Snitsarev, V., Whiteis, C.A., Chapleau, M., and Abboud, F.M.: Neuronal Prostacyclin is an Autocrine Regulator of Arterial Baroreceptor Activity. Hypertension, 46 (3):540-546, 2005 Sept.
Snitsarev, V., Whiteis, C.A., Chapleau, M.W., and Abboud, F.M.: Mechano- And Chemo-sensitivity of Rat Nodose Neurones – Selective Excitatory Effects of Prostacyclin. J Physiol, 582(1):177-194, 2007.
260. Tan, Z., Lu, Y., Whiteis, C.A., Benson, C., Chapleau, M.W., and Abboud, F.M.: Acid Sensing Ion Channels (ASICs) Contribute to Transduction of Extracellular Acidosis in Rat Carotid Body Glomus Cells. Circ. Res. (in press) 2007.

Links of Interest

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