Augusta University · PhysiologyHypertension and Gut Health Lab
Justine M Abais-Battad · Augusta, Georgia
Research Focus
Dr. Justine M. Abais-Battad's lab focuses on understanding how sex differences affect hypertension, especially regarding gut health and the immune system. They conduct studies using rat models and human samples to uncover how gut bacteria and immune responses contribute to high blood pressure, particularly in females. This research aims to improve treatments for hypertension and kidney disease by identifying sex-specific mechanisms.
hypertensiongut microbiotaimmune systemsex differencesrenal healthcardiovascular diseaseT cell functionmicrobiota transfersalt sensitivitymetabolites
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how gut microbiota drives sex differences in salt-sensitive hypertension.
AIM 02Assess how male and female gut microbiota influence T cell function and activation.
AIM 03Examine gut microbiota and T cell responses in hypertensive humans from opposite-sex twin pairs.
Skills the Lab Values
Animal modelsMicrobiota transfer techniquesCell cultureFlow cytometryPCRBlood pressure measurementStatistical analysisImmune profilingGenetic analysisT cell activation assays
Output against the department
Publications96bottom 27% of dept.209th of 286
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations865bottom 2% of dept.279th of 286
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.