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Details for Professor Julian Paton

Personal details
Name Professor Julian Paton
Job title Professorial Research Fellow in Physiology
Department School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience University of Bristol
Contact details This expert can be contacted via the University of Bristol Public Relations Office.

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work+44 (0)117 331 8092
email:
Qualifications B.Sc.(Birm.), Ph.D.(Lond.)
Professional details
Keywords central nervous system
cardiovascular system
respiratory system
central nervous circuits
autonomic dysfunction
hypertension
sleep apnoea
neuronal mechanisms
Areas of expertise Using a multidisciplinary approach we are studying the central nervous system control of cardiovascular and respiratory systems. These systems are controlled by common central nervous circuits to provide a matching of cardiac output and minute ventilation. Our aim is to identify novel mechanisms and targets that underpin autonomic dysfunction resulting in hypertension and sleep apnoea.

Cardiovascular studies

Our hypothesis is that the brain is to blame for hypertension. Primary hypertension is a worldwide epidemic. With an inability to restore normal blood pressure in ~50% of patients, we seek novel targets in central neuronal circuits regulating arterial pressure.

Respiratory studies

We are defining neuronal mechanisms generating breathing. Our hypothesis is that normal breathing (eupnea) is defined by synaptic interactions within a ponto-medullary circuit while gasping, caused by hypoxia that provides an autoresuscitation mechanism, is driven by medullary pacemaker neurones.