July 2024 – Sayuri Inuzuka (Brazil)

1. Tell us about yourself.

I’m a clinical cardiologist with training focused on hypertension, cardiovascular prevention and precision medicine. I am a third-generation Japanese Brazilian who lives in Goiania – GO, I work as a researcher in the Arterial Hypertension Unit at the Federal University of Goiás and it is also the place where I study for my post-doctorate.

2. What are your research interests?

My research is focused on hypertension, arterial stiffness and intracranial hypertension.

3. What are you working on right now?

I am working on the intracranial pressure waveform in patients with essential hypertension.

4. What do you hope to achieve in the field of hypertension over the next 5 years?

I hope that we can find the mechanistic bases of the association between hypertension and cerebrovascular diseases, specifically cognitive impairment.

5. What challenges have you faced in your career to date?

The challenge that has stood out most in recent years, I believe, is convincing others of the value of my research. This type of challenge has made me a more self-confident person.

6. Which of your publications are you proudest of and why (please include paper reference)

It was my second publication of my PhD manuscript, as it was carried out after a second reanalysis of the database and resulted in a work that contributed to determining Pulse Wave Velocity values related to other cardiovascular biomarkers.

Inuzuka S, Vitorino PVO, Barroso AS, Magalhães FG, Sousa AC, Alves Filho RPP, Melo VA, et al. Pulse Wave Velocity of 8.2 m/s as a Threshold Associated with Cardiovascular Target Organ Damage Presence. Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2023;120(10):e20220934.

7. What is your favourite manuscript from a lab other than your own?

Vlachopoulos C, Xaplanteris P, Aboyans V, Brodmann M, Cífková R, Cosentino F, De Carlo M, Gallino A, Landmesser U, Laurent S, Lekakis J, Mikhailidis DP, Naka KK, Protogerou AD, Rizzoni D, Schmidt-Trucksäss A, Van Bortel L, Weber T, Yamashina A, Zimlichman R, Boutouyrie P, Cockcroft J, O’Rourke M, Park JB, Schillaci G, Sillesen H, Townsend RR. The role of vascular biomarkers for primary and secondary prevention. A position paper from the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on peripheral circulation: Endorsed by the Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology (ARTERY) Society. Atherosclerosis. 2015 Aug;241(2):507-32. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.05.007. Epub 2015 May 16. PMID: 26117398. This manuscript is important for preventive strategies.

8. What are your passions outside of work?

I enjoy spending time with my family and I dedicate time to Japanese culture. I’m on the director’s board of the Japanese-Brazilian association in my state. I help organize gastronomic and cultural events. I also like traveling and reading.