Page 50 - SAMRC AnnualReport 2025-26

Hypertension and
Cardiovascular Disease

Research Unit

UNIT DIRECTOR:
Prof. Marlien Pieters
marlien.pieters@nwu.ac.za

Overview of the Research Unit The Unit has expanded its focus from CVD in older
populations to preventive cardiology, with particular
The Research Unit aims to reduce the burden of emphasis on:
non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly
cardiovascular disease (CVD), through collaborative › Early development of CVD risk factors, including
research, innovation, and evidence-based policy and hypertension and vascular ageing in children and
practice. Working closely with industry and clinical young adults;
partners, the Unit contributes to the development › The intersection of HIV and CVD, and the impact
and implementation of prevention strategies, of co-morbidities on disease progression; and
education programmes, and primary healthcare
interventions aligned with South Africa’s National › Addressing poor awareness and late diagnosis
Health Insurance priorities. that contribute to the high burden of CVD.

As a South African Medical Research Council This work generates critical insights across the
(SAMRC) Extramural Unit (EMU), we are committed disease spectrum, from early pathophysiological
to improving the health and well-being of all changes to advanced CVD, while informing improved
South Africans by advancing more effective and population-based prevention, treatment, and care
context-specific approaches to CVD awareness, strategies.
prevention, treatment, and care. Our research
considers the country’s cultural diversity, locally
available and affordable food systems, genetic and
epigenetic differences across population groups,
and the interaction between infectious diseases and
metabolic health.

Key Milestones and Achievements
The EMU contributes to new clinical and
epidemiological knowledge on CVD risk across
diverse South African populations, with the goal
of strengthening future prevention, treatment,
and awareness programmes. Using advanced
technologies such as polyomics and cardiovascular
phenotyping, the Unit conducts prospective The African PRospective study on the Early
epidemiological and implementation research to Detection and Identification of Cardiovascular
develop comprehensive cardiovascular profiles of diseases and HyperTension.
South Africans.

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