The hypertensive patients are exposed to unacceptably high risk and we must rethink how to treat them.

el Prof. Javier Díez received the Peter Sleight Prize awarded by the European Society of Hypertension.

-the risk to which they are exposed hypertensive patients, including treaties, is unacceptably high

– we have to rethink the approach of the fundus in terms pathophysiological process, as well as the way in which we treat patients

– If the science that generates original and applicable knowledge is the science of excellence, only she should allocate resources

Spain, may 2012.- El Prof. Javier Díez, Director of the area of cardiovascular Sciences of the CIMA, Professor of medicine at the University of Navarra and researcher of the RECAVA (belonging to the Instituto de Salud Carlos III Cardiovascular Research Network) received on Saturday 28 April in London the Peter Sleight Prize awarded by the European Society of Hypertension. This award is granted recognition as a scientist who has made an outstanding contribution to the research, education and leadership in the fields of hypertension and cardiovascular protection.

Such recognition is for Prof. Javier Díez a source of satisfaction for the fact that the European scientific community recognizes a work of research carried out in our country for many years ”. In addition highlights great joy to share this award with all my colleagues in the last two decades, true architects of the achievements that have brought us here ”.

High blood pressure is one of the main known cardiovascular risk factors, but in the view of this world expert on the subject, some things should change. Díez stresses that day, high blood pressure is the main health threat (in terms of morbidity, mortality and health cost) facing our society.

But the most important thing is that in the opinion of the researcher of the RECAVA this is because regardless of what has happened in their diagnosis and treatment during the last 3 decades, the risk to which they are exposed, hypertensive patients even treatiessuffering an acute ischemic cardiovascular event or develop a chronic and progressive deterioration of the function of the heart, kidney or brain is unacceptably high. This means that we have to rethink the approach to the process fundus in pathophysiological terms, as well as the way in which we treat patients. ”

currently the Group of Prof. Javier Diez has focused his research on not haemodynamic mechanisms by which hypertension chronically damaged heart (facilitating the development of heart failure), as well as in the development of new methods for early detection of such harm (biomarkers) and the characterization of new targets (molecules that remodeling myocardium) on which act therapeutically to better preserve the heart function.

Prof. Javier Díez.

the prize Peter Sleight that is granted is for Díez an incentive to renew the illusion by further forward research, despite the difficult situation that we are experiencing. ” in relation to how the current economic crisis may affect to biomedical research, the researcher of the RECAVA stresses that many colleagues more authorized than I already have spoken out in recent days on the very negative impact that it has for the future of a country the weakening of its scientific activity by decrease in the resources to it ”.

His stance is not just theoretical, when Prof. Javier Díez says that I I agree with those who call prior to reduce budgetary allocations that will weaken the creation of new knowledge and its application, will reconsider other less damaging options for the future of Spain ”.

But at the same time Díez makes an exercise in pragmatism considering that believe that the scientists, particularly those in the world of health, have an obligation to optimize the use of resources that we have. That means recognising that if science that generates original and applicable knowledge is the science of excellence, only she will have to allocate resources, using with maximum rigour the existing criteria of selection and competitiveness, and regardless of considerations and extracientíficas weights ”.