Research that was conducted in cooperation of the scientists of <i>Hjartavernd<p>, (Heart Protection Association) and European and US scientists has been chosen as one out of ten most important researches of 2009 by the American Heart Association.
Vilmundur Gudnason, professor and chief doctor at the Research Center of Hjartavernd, led the Icelandic team.
The research is founded on the discovery of genes that control blood pressure in humans and was published in Nature Genetics magazine in May 2009.
The American Heart Association has put together an annual list of 10 best advances in research in the field of Heart and Coronary Disease, since 1996.
Hjartavernd considers the choice a huge honor for the important work conducted at Hjartavernd for the past 40 years.
The research, which was based on aging research conducted by Hjartavernd and long-term gathering of information by Hjartavernd in its Reykjavík Research were crucial factors in the landmark findings.
Hundreds of people have participated in Hjartavernd’s research which was highly important to find the cause and development of heart disease.
The discovery of the research is considered a landmark because previously genes which are thought to have impact on blood pressure have not been discovered in spite of wide research. This result opens possibilities for further research of blood pressure and possible new methods of treating the disease, states a press release from Hjartavernd, mbl.is reported.
