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Lawrence J. Appel, MD

Lawrence J. Appel
  • Professor

Departmental Affiliations

Center & Institute Affiliations

Contact Information

Welch Center for Prevention
2024 E. Monument Street, Room 2-600
Baltimore, Maryland 21287

410-955-4156
410-955-0476

Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research

View Current Courses

Education

MPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 1989
MD, New York University School of Medicine, 1981

Overview

I am currently Director of the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, a large interdisciplinary research unit that bridges the Schools of Medicine and Public Health at Hopkins.  The mission of the Welch Center is to conduct epidemiologic, clinical and translational research of the highest quality and to train the next generation of interdisciplinary researchers. 

As for my own research, I have conducted clinical research with a particular focus on preventing blood pressure-related cardiovascular and kidney diseases. I have three active lines of research: (1) controlled feeding studies, (2) behavioral intervention trials, that test novel strategies to accomplish lifestyle changes, often related to obesity, and (3) cohort studies and trials related to chronic kidney disease and its consequences. A particularly notable feature of my research is the focus on conditions and diseases that disproportionately afflict minorities and on interventions that have the potential to substantially reduce racial disparities.

Over the course of my career, I have mentored numerous students, fellows and faculty (and continue to do so).  This aspect of my career is incredibly enjoyable and rewarding.

Honors and Awards

2016 Thomson Reuters Most Influential Scientists, based on number of most highly cited papers (top 1% of field)

2016 Marvin Moser Clinical Hypertension Award from the American Society of Hypertension

2015 Elected Member, Association of American Physicians (AAP)

2012 Elected Member, Institute of Medicine (IOM, now National Academy of Medicine (NAM))

2010 Director, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research

2010 Conner Award Lecturer, American Heart Association 

2008 David M. Levine Excellence in Mentoring Award

2006 Epidemiologic Inquiry Accolade: Randomized Trial of the Month (OmniHeart) 

2006 Distinguished Researcher, the International Society of Hypertension in Blacks (ISHIB)

2005 Top 4th Percentile in NIH Funding, 1977-2002

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Hypertension
  • Blood pressure
  • Diet
  • Lifestyle modifications
  • Fall prevention
  • Clinical trials

Selected publications from > 400

  • Appel LJ, Moore TL, Obarzanek E et al. A clinical trial of the effects of dietary patterns on blood pressure. DASH Collaborative Research Group. N Engl J Med. 1997 Apr 17;336(16):1117-24. PMID: 9099655.
  • Appel LJ, Sacks FM, Carey V et al for the OmniHeart Collaborative Research Group. Effects of protein, monounsaturated fat, and carbohydrate intake on blood pressure and serum lipids: results of the OmniHeart randomized trial. JAMA. 2005 Nov 16;294(19):2455-64. PMID: 16287956.
  • Appel LJ, Brands MW , Daniels SR et all American Heart Association. Dietary approaches to prevent and treat hypertension: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Hypertension. 2006 Feb;47(2):296-308. PMID: 16434724.
  • Appel LJ, Wright JT, Greene T, et al.  Intensive blood-pressure control in hypertensive chronic kidney disease.  N Engl J Med 2010:363(10):918-929.  PMID: 20818902
  • Cobb LK, Anderson CA, Elliott P, Hu FB, Liu K, Neaton JD, Whelton PK, Woodward M, Appel LJ; American Heart Association Council on Lifestyle and Metabolic Health. Methodological issues in cohort studies that relate sodium intake to cardiovascular disease outcomes: a science advisory from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2014 Mar 11;129(10):1173-86. [PubMed] PMID: 24515991.

See all publications by Lawrence J. Appel

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