
Overview
Background
MS has 35 years clinical research experience in pathogenesis and management of hypertension (HT), including endocrine varieties such as primary aldosteronism (PA). Working within the Greenslopes Hospital Hypertension Unit (GHHU), he helped demonstrate that PA is 10 times more common than previously thought and to account for approximately 10% of HT, making it the commonest specifically treatable, potentially curable variety, and in the description of a new familial form (FH-II) which recently led to the elucidation of its genetic basis (a gain of function mutation in CLCN2, published in Nature Genetics). The combined GHHU/Princess Alexandra Hospital HT Unit (PAHHU, which MS set up in 2000) has possibly the largest series (>2500) worldwide of patients with PA who have been thoroughly documented and meticulously studied, helping MS to become internationally recognized as an authority on pathogenesis/genetics, diagnostic workup and management of PA. In 2006, MS served as member of an international Task Force sponsored by the US Endocrine Society to develop the first guideline for diagnosis and management of PA (published in J Clin Endocrinol Metab and cited >1200 times with an update published in 2016 and cited >1900 times). He is currently Co-Chair of the working group for the third guideline. MS conceived, developed and validated the seated saline suppression test which has since become the favoured method for definitively confirming the diagnosis of PA in most Australian and in a rapidly growing number of overseas institutions. He has also made major contributions to the understanding of how various physiological and pharmacological factors affect the aldosterone/renin ratio as a screening test for PA and in optimizing approaches to adrenal venous sampling, the most reliable method of differentiating unilateral (surgically curable) from bilateral varieties.
Publications: MS has published 1 book, 20 textbook chapters and >250 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals. His journal publications have been cited >14,000 times ("h" index 59).
Grant Support: Since 2019, MS has received ~$16 million in research grant support. He is currently a CI on two MRFF grants and an NHMRC CCRE.
Invited Presentations and Collaboration: MS has been invited to speak at major meetings 137 times (99 international) and has collaborated with researchers in >20 international Units and all Australian states. In 2018, was one of six investigators awarded a highly prestigious Leducq Foundation Transatlantic Networks of Excellence Program grant ($USD 6 million) to study the role of potassium in hypertension.
Committee Highlights: MS is past President of the Asian-Pacific Society of Hypertension and of the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia. During his time as HBPRCA President, initiatives that were introduced under his presidency included launching of a successful bid for 24h ABPM to be assigned an item number to enable a Medicare rebate of ABPM services. He was a Member of the NHF BP & Vascular Disease Advisory Committee 1998-2013.
Community Engagement: As President since 1995 of the Queensland Hypertension Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting self-care in the management of hypertension, MS has overseen all of its activities, including bimonthly educational sessions and preparation of educational material for the general community and health professionals. On numerous occasions, MS has provided information to the community on issues related to hypertension by media interview.
Peer Review: Previously serving on Editorial Boards for of J Clin Endocrinol Metab, J Hypertens, Clin Exper Pharmacol Physiol, and Nephology, MS is currently Editor-in-Chief of J Hum Hypertens and a member of the Editorial Board for Hypertension. He has assessed 100’s of manuscripts for major international journals and served as grant application assessor on many occasions for major international and national funding bodies (including the NHMRC).
Other Awards and Honours: (1) John W.H. Tyrer Prize for Research in Internal Medicine, (2) Robert Vandongen Memorial Lecturer (University of WA), 2002, (3) Honorary Professor to the Xinjiang Institute of Hypertension, 2005, (4) Visiting Professor to the Tung Wah Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong, 2008, (5) Gaston Bauer Lecturer, Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, 2012, (5) Nimmo Visitor, Royal Adelaide Hospital, 2015, (6) Paul Korner Award, Hypertension Australia, 2024.
Availability
- Professor Michael Stowasser is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Medicine Surgery, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Research interests
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Determining the genetic basis for FH-II and other forms of primary aldosteronism
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Improving methods of detection, diagnostic workup and management of primary aldosteronism
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Validating a highly accurate method of measuring aldosterone using tandem mass spectrometry developed within the EHRC
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Determining genetic factors which may modify phenotypic expression in FH-I, and thereby explain the wide spectrum of hypertens
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Determining the extent to which aldosterone excess in humans is capable of causing cardiovascular and other organ dysfunction in
Research impacts
Hypertension (high blood pressure) affects around 30% of Australian adults, and is a leading risk factor for stroke. Treatment usually means lifelong medications, potentially costly and poorly tolerated. However, when the cause can be identified, and reversed or specifically treated, the outcomes are often dramatic with patients being able to come off many or all antihypertensives and enjoying markedly improved quality of life, while at the same time reducing their stroke risk.
The Endocrine Hypertension Research Centre (EHRC), a University of Queensland School of Medicine Centre based at Greenslopes and Princess Alexandra Hospitals, conducts internationally acclaimed research into the causes and management of various forms of hypertension, with a major focus on curable and specifically treatable varieties. It is the only Centre of its kind in Queensland and one of only a few internationally recognized Australian groups dedicated to hypertension-related clinical management and research. An important area of our work, for which the Centre has attracted much attention, has been our detailed studies into epidemiological, biochemical, morphological, pathophysiological and genetic aspects of a potentially curable form of hypertension known as primary aldosteronism (PA), in which the adrenal glands produce excessive amounts of salt retaining hormone (aldosterone). The EHRC demonstrated 20 years ago that PA is approximately ten times more common than previously thought, and accounts for as many as 10% of patients with hypertension. This finding has led to the identification of thousands of patients around the world who would otherwise have gone undetected, and in whom hypertension has been cured or markedly improved following surgical or specific medical treatment. More than 2000 thoroughly studied and documented patients with PA (probably the largest series worldwide) in our Centre provide a unique resource for further research into causes, diagnosis and treatment, and have led to important collaborations with first-class overseas investigators.
Research at the EHRC and elsewhere has shown that aldosterone excess in unrecognised PA is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity which exceeds that due to hypertension alone. For example, the risk of stroke in PA is over four times higher than that for other forms of hypertension. In one rare familial form of PA, detectable by a genetic test developed in our Centre, hypertension can be particular severe and of early onset, leading to death at ages as young as 30 from hypertensive, haemorrhagic stroke. Because this increase risk is completely reversed by specifically treating the PA condition, it is vitally important that as many patients as possible with PA be identified among the hypertensive population. Major challenges exist in accurate diagnosis of PA, prompting our Centre to research better ways to achieve this, including through genetic testing and enhanced clinical and biochemical approaches, so that more people will be detected and given the opportunity to receive superior, highly effective treatment.
Among its many other projects, the Centre is actively involved in unlocking the genetic and molecular code of another form of hypertension known as Gordon syndrome (named after the Centre’s founder, Richard Gordon) which results in excessive retention of salt and potassium by the kidney. This work has the potentially to greatly enhance our understanding of how the kidney regulates salt balance and blood pressure, and to lead to the development of new drugs to treat hypertension and thereby prevent stroke.
Works
Search Professor Michael Stowasser’s works on UQ eSpace
2012
Conference Publication
Repeat adrenal vein sampling when neither aldosterone/cortisol ratio exceeds peripheral yields a high incidence of aldosterone-producing adenoma
Wolley, Martin, Gordon, Richard D., Pimenta, Eduardo, Daunt, Nicholas, Slater, Gregory, Ku, Yee K., Estella, Eugene, Storie, William J., Nikwan, Nik and Stowasser, Michael (2012). Repeat adrenal vein sampling when neither aldosterone/cortisol ratio exceeds peripheral yields a high incidence of aldosterone-producing adenoma. Satellite Symposium of the International-Society-of-Hypertension on Aldosterone and Salt - Heart and Kidney, Palm Cove, QLD, Australia, 5-7 October 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1038/ajh.2012.134
2012
Journal Article
Calibrators for measuring aldosterone by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
Taylor, Paul J., Gordon, Richard D. and Stowasser, Michael (2012). Calibrators for measuring aldosterone by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Clinica Chimica Acta, 413 (1-2), 346-347. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2011.09.025
2012
Journal Article
Arterial stiffness, central blood pressure and body size in health and disease
Kolade, O.O., O'Moore-Sullivan, T.M., Stowasser, M., Coombes, J.S., Fassett, R.G., Marwick, T.H. and Sharman, J.E. (2012). Arterial stiffness, central blood pressure and body size in health and disease. International Journal of Obesity, 36 (1), 93-99. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2011.79
2012
Conference Publication
Somatic mutations affecting the selectivity filter of KCNJ5 are frequent in aldosterone-producing adenomas and associated with lack of aldosterone response to upright posture
Azizan, Elena A., Murthy, Meena, Stowasser, Michael, Gordon, Richard D., Kowalski, Bartosz, Xu, Shengxin, Brown, Morris J. and O'Shaughnessy, Kevin M. (2012). Somatic mutations affecting the selectivity filter of KCNJ5 are frequent in aldosterone-producing adenomas and associated with lack of aldosterone response to upright posture. Satellite Symposium of the International-Society-of-Hypertension on Aldosterone and Salt - Heart and Kidney, Palm Cove, QLD, Australia, 5-7 October 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1038/ajh.2012.134
2012
Journal Article
The effect of lowering salt intake on ambulatory blood pressure to reduce cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease (LowSALT CKD study): protocol of a randomized trial
McMahon, Emma J., Bauer, Judith D., Hawley, Carmel M., Isbel, Nicole M., Stowasser, Michael, Johnson, David W., Hale, Rachael E. and Campbell, Katrina L. (2012). The effect of lowering salt intake on ambulatory blood pressure to reduce cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease (LowSALT CKD study): protocol of a randomized trial. BMC Nephrology, 13 (1) 137. doi: 10.1186/1471-2369-13-137
2012
Conference Publication
Measurement of aldosterone and cortisol by HPLC-Tandem Mass Spectrometry: could this improve decision making in primary aldosteronism?
Taylor, Paul J., Gordon, Richard D. and Stowasser, Michael (2012). Measurement of aldosterone and cortisol by HPLC-Tandem Mass Spectrometry: could this improve decision making in primary aldosteronism?. Satellite Symposium of the International-Society-of-Hypertension on Aldosterone and Salt - Heart and Kidney, Palm Cove, QLD, Australia, 5-7 October 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1038/ajh.2012.134
2012
Conference Publication
Quality of life in patients with bilateral primary aldosteronism before and during treatment with spironolactone and/or amiloride, including a comparison with our previously published results in those with unilateral disease treated surgically
Ahmed, Ashraf H., Gordon, Richard D., Sukor, Norlela, Pimenta, Eduardo and Stowasser, Michael (2012). Quality of life in patients with bilateral primary aldosteronism before and during treatment with spironolactone and/or amiloride, including a comparison with our previously published results in those with unilateral disease treated surgically. 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the High-Blood-Pressure-Research-Council-of-Australia (HBPRCA), Perth, WA, Australia, 6-9 December 2011. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. doi: 10.1161/HYP.0b013e3182602164
2012
Conference Publication
Relevance of plasma aldosterone responsiveness to upright posture, hybrid steroids and histology of Aldosterone-Producing Adenomas (APAs) to the finding of KCNJ5 mutations in some APAs
Gordon, Richard, Stowasser, Michael, Xu, Shengxin, Wolley, Martin, Glover, Mark and O'Shaughnessy, Kevin (2012). Relevance of plasma aldosterone responsiveness to upright posture, hybrid steroids and histology of Aldosterone-Producing Adenomas (APAs) to the finding of KCNJ5 mutations in some APAs. Satellite Symposium of the International-Society-of-Hypertension on Aldosterone and Salt - Heart and Kidney, Palm Cove, QLD, Australia, 5-7 October 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1038/ajh.2012.134
2012
Conference Publication
A need to re-focus on precision of screening and diagnostic tests in primary aldosteronism
Ahmed, Ashraf H., Gordon, Richard D., Pimenta, Eduardo, Taylor, Paul J. and Stowasser, Michael (2012). A need to re-focus on precision of screening and diagnostic tests in primary aldosteronism. Satellite Symposium of the International-Society-of-Hypertension on Aldosterone and Salt - Heart and Kidney, Palm Cove, QLD, Australia, 5-7 October 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1038/ajh.2012.134
2012
Conference Publication
Natriuretic Peptides (ANP,BNP) unexpectedly lower in Familial Hyperkalemic Hypertension (FHHt) or Gordon Syndrome and higher in Gitelman Syndrome (GS), query significance
Gordon, Richard, Stowasser, Michael, Wolley, Martin, O'Shaughnessy, Kevin and Glover, Mark (2012). Natriuretic Peptides (ANP,BNP) unexpectedly lower in Familial Hyperkalemic Hypertension (FHHt) or Gordon Syndrome and higher in Gitelman Syndrome (GS), query significance. Satellite Symposium of the International-Society-of-Hypertension on Aldosterone and Salt - Heart and Kidney, Palm Cove, QLD, Australia, 5-7 October 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1038/ajh.2012.134
2011
Journal Article
Hyperreninemic hypertension following presumed abdominal trauma
Pimenta, Eduardo, Gordon, Richard D., Daunt, Nicholas, Slater, Gregory and Stowasser, Michael (2011). Hyperreninemic hypertension following presumed abdominal trauma. Nature Reviews Nephrology, 7 (12), 730-734. doi: 10.1038/nrneph.2011.127
2011
Journal Article
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
National Heart Foundation and High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Consensus Committee, Head, Geoffey A., McGrath, Barry P., Mihaildou, Anastasia S., Nelson, Mark R., Schlaich, Markus P., Stowasser, Michael, Mangini, Arduino A., Cowley, Diane and Wilson, Alison (2011). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Australian Family Physician, 40 (11), 877-880.
2011
Journal Article
Unilateral adrenalectomy improves urinary protein excretion but does not abolish its relationship to sodium excretion in patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma
Pimenta, E., Gordon, R. D., Ahmed, A. H., Cowley, D., Robson, D., Kogovsek, C. and Stowasser, M. (2011). Unilateral adrenalectomy improves urinary protein excretion but does not abolish its relationship to sodium excretion in patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma. Journal of Human Hypertension, 25 (10), 592-599. doi: 10.1038/jhh.2010.102
2011
Journal Article
Masked hypertension is "unmasked" by low-intensity exercise blood pressure
Schultz, Martin G., Hare, James L., Marwick, Thomas H., Stowasser, Michael and Sharman, James E. (2011). Masked hypertension is "unmasked" by low-intensity exercise blood pressure. Blood Pressure, 20 (5), 284-289. doi: 10.3109/08037051.2011.566251
2011
Journal Article
Further study of chromosome 7p22 to identify the molecular basis of familial hyperaldosteronism type II
Carss, K.J., Stowasser, M., Gordon, R.D. and O'Shaughnessy, K.M. (2011). Further study of chromosome 7p22 to identify the molecular basis of familial hyperaldosteronism type II. Journal of Human Hypertension, 25 (9), 560-564. doi: 10.1038/jhh.2010.93
2011
Journal Article
Quality of life in patients with bilateral primary aldosteronism before and during treatment with spironolactone and/or amiloride, including a comparison with our previously published results in those with unilateral disease treated surgically
Ahmed, Ashraf H., Gordon, Richard D., Pimenta, Eduardo and Stowasser, Michael (2011). Quality of life in patients with bilateral primary aldosteronism before and during treatment with spironolactone and/or amiloride, including a comparison with our previously published results in those with unilateral disease treated surgically. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 96 (9), 2904-2911. doi: 10.1210/jc.2011-0138
2011
Journal Article
Central hemodynamics and cardiovascular risk in nondippers
Coleman, Cameron T., Stowasser, Michael, Jenkins, Carly, Marwick, Thomas H. and Sharman, James E. (2011). Central hemodynamics and cardiovascular risk in nondippers. Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 13 (8), 557-562. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-7176.2011.00480.x
2011
Journal Article
Cardiac dimensions are largely determined by dietary salt in patients with primary aldosteronism: Results of a case-control study
Pimenta, Eduardo, Gordon, Richard D., Ahmed, Ashraf H., Cowley, Diane, Leano, Rodel, Marwick, Thomas H. and Stowasser, Michael (2011). Cardiac dimensions are largely determined by dietary salt in patients with primary aldosteronism: Results of a case-control study. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 96 (9), 2813-2820. doi: 10.1210/jc.2011-0354
2011
Conference Publication
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Antidepressants May Interfere with the Diagnostic Work Up of Primary Aldosteronism
Ahmed, Ashraf H., Calvird, Michele, Gordon, Richard D., Taylor, Paul J., Ward, Gregory, Pimenta, Eduardo and Stowasser, Michael (2011). Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Antidepressants May Interfere with the Diagnostic Work Up of Primary Aldosteronism. 32nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia, Melbourne Australia, Dec 01-03, 2010. PHILADELPHIA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS.
2011
Conference Publication
Does Correction of Aldosteronism by Unilateral Adrenalectomy in Patients with Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma Reduce Salt Appetite?
Pimenta, E., Gordon, R., Ahmed, A., Cowley, D., Robson, D., Kogovsek, C. and Stowasser, M. (2011). Does Correction of Aldosteronism by Unilateral Adrenalectomy in Patients with Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma Reduce Salt Appetite?. 32nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia, Melbourne Australia, Dec 01-03, 2010. PHILADELPHIA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Michael Stowasser is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Defining The Role Of Mineralocorticoid Receptor In Cardiometabolic Health & Inflammation & Optimising The Diagnostic Approach For Aldosterone-producing Adenoma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Moe Thuzar
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Regulation of sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC) in health and disease
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Histopathological, Biochemical and Genetic Characterization of Different Types of Primary Aldosteronism, Including Validation of a New Angiotensin Assay
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Clinical and Physiological Aspects of Salt Sensitive Hypertension
Principal Advisor
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
The interplay of salt and aldosterone in determining ill-effects of aldosterone excess in the cardiovascular and renal system and stimulating salt appetite
Principal Advisor
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Primary Aldosteronism-Pharmacological and Physiological Factors influencing diagnosis and management.
Principal Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aspects of Primary Aldosteronism
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
GENETICS OF PRIMARY ALDOSTERONISM - FAMILIAL HYPERALDOSTERONISM TYPE II
Principal Advisor
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
Fibromuscular dysplasia of the renal arteries: Studies on aetiology
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Michael Stowasser directly for media enquiries about:
- Aldosteronism - primary
- Cardiac irregularities
- High blood pressure
- Hyperaldosteronism
- Hypertension
- Hypertension - familial forms
- Pathophysiology
- Phaeochromolytoma
- Renal artery sterosis
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