Dr. Mercedes Kuroski Debold

Biography

Mercedes L. Kuroski deBold is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Her research significantly addresses the cardiovascular systems, focusing on the role of natriuretic peptides in regulating blood pressure and related pathologies. She was involved in the discovery of the atrial natriuretic factor and the hormone known as brain natriuretic peptide, highlighting their importance in fluid balance and blood pressure regulation. Her studies have shown that elevated levels of ANF and BNP can indicate pathophysiological conditions associated with hemodynamic overload, such as hypertension. Notably, she has demonstrated sex differences in the expression of these peptides, particularly finding that premenopausal women have higher plasma ANF levels than age-matched men. Her current research aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind these differences and their implications for heart disease in male and female models. She collaborates with the Cardiac Cell Molecular Biology Group to explore the contribution of natriuretic peptides to conditions like cardiac hypertrophy.

Research Interests

Experience