Welcome to the Feng Earley Lab

Our research focuses on central mechanisms regulating blood pressure and metabolic function, with particular emphasis on the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS), neural circuitry, neuroinflammation, and glial-neuronal interactions. A major discovery from my lab was identifying a novel pathway for brain angiotensin II formation via the (pro)renin receptor (PRR), resolving a long-standing question in our understanding of endogenous brain RAS activity and its role in neurogenic hypertension. We further demonstrated that hypothalamic PRR signaling, particularly in tyrosine hydroxylase–expressing neurons, drives sympathetic activation and metabolic dysfunction in high-fat diet models. My group integrates CNS-targeted gene manipulation, chemogenetics, telemetric blood pressure monitoring, and metabolic phenotyping to dissect these mechanisms.

I led the development of PRO20, a selective PRR antagonist with demonstrated efficacy in animal models of hypertension and metabolic disease. This work has resulted in multiple patents covering its potential use in hypertension, diabetic kidney disease, wound healing, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Complementing this basic research, our translational studies revealed elevated cerebrospinal fluid sodium and increased brain PRR expression in individuals with hypertension, supporting the relevance of central sodium sensing in human hypertension. We also demonstrated that mobile health interventions can lower blood pressure in young adults at risk, underscoring the clinical potential of targeting central mechanisms and utilizing digital technologies in hypertension prevention and treatment.

Yumei Feng Earley, M.D., Ph.D.
Principal Investigator