Department of Internal Medicine

Cardiovascular Medicine Faculty

Allyn L. Mark, M.D.
Professor and Roy J. Carver Chair in Internal Medicine

Dr. Mark's research has focused on the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the regulation of the circulation in physiologic and pathologic states. After a sabbatical in Uppsala, Sweden in 1983-84, he introduced the microneurographic method for direct intraneural recordings of sympathetic nerve activity into the US and, with his trainees, employed this method to advance understanding of human autonomic control in exercise, heart failure, hypertension, sodium intake and obesity.

His research interest now focuses on sympathetic and cardiovascular actions of insulin, leptin, and neuropeptides in mechanisms of obesity-induced hypertension in rodent models of obesity (including spontaneous mutant models and genetically engineered models of obesity in mice) and in humans.

From 1976 to 1995, Dr. Mark was Director of the Cardiovascular Division. From 1995 to 2006, he was Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs in the Carver College of Medicine.

Specialty Practice

Internal Medicine
Hypertension
Clinical Cardiology

Allyn Mark photo

Medical School:
The University of Iowa

Residency:
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Iowa

Fellowship:
The University of Iowa

Honors, Awards, and Organizations

Alpha Omega Alpha
American Heart Association
American Society of Hypertension
American Physiology Society; Past-Chair, Cardiovascular Section
American Society for Clinical Investigation
Association of American Physicians
Association of University Cardiologists; President 1993-1994
Central Society for Clinical Research
Senior Fulbright Scholar, University of Uppsala, Sweden, 1983-84
International Society of Hypertension; Chair, Scientific Program Committee, ISH 2000
MERIT Award, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 1987-97
Editor-in-Chief, Hypertension, 1989-93
International Society of Hypertension-Merck Award for Hypertension Research, 1994
Roy J. Carver Professor of Medicine, The University of Iowa College of Medicine, 1992-present
Lifetime Achievement Award, American Heart Association Council for High Blood Pressure Research, 2003
William Harvey Award for Hypertension Research, American Society of Hypertension, 2004
Visiting Professor, The Rockefeller University, 2006-present

Select Publications

Haynes, W.G., Morgan, D.A., Walsh, S.A., Mark, A.L., and Sivitz, W.I.: Receptor-Mediated Regional Sympathetic Nerve Activation by Leptin. J. Clin. Invest., 100:270-278, 1997.
Mark, A.L., Shaffer, R.A, Correia, M.L.G., Morgan, D.A., and Haynes, W.G. Contrasting Blood Pressure Effects of Obesity in Leptin-Deficient Ob/Ob Mice and Agouti Yellow Obese Mice. J. Hypertension, 17:1949-1953, 1999.
Mark AL, Correia MLG, Rahmouni K, Haynes WG: Selective Leptin Resistance: A New Concept in Leptin Physiology with Cardiovascular Implications. J Hypertension 20:1245-50, 2002.
Correia MLG, Haynes WG, Rahmouni K, Morgan DA, Sivitz WI, Mark AL. The Concept of Selective Leptin Resistance: Evidence from Agouti Yellow Obese Mice. Diabetes 51:439-42, 2002.
Rahmouni K, Haynes WG, Morgan DA, Mark AL: Role of Melanocortin-4 Receptors in Mediating Renal Sympathoactivation to Leptin and Insulin. Journal of Neuroscience 23:5998-6004, 2003.
Rahmouni K, Haynes WG, Morgan DA, Mark AL: Intracellular Mechanisms involved in Leptin Regulation of Sympathetic Outflow. Hypertension 41:763-67, 2003.
Rahmouni K, Mark AL, Haynes WG, Sigmund CD: Adipose Depot-Specific Modulation of Angiotensinogen Gene Expression in Diet-Induced Obesity. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 286:E891-95, 2004.
Rahmouni K, Morgan DA, Morgan GA, Mark AL, Haynes WG: Role of Selective Leptin Resistance in Diet-Induced Obesity-Hypertension. Diabetes 54: 2012-2018, 2005.
Mark AL: Dietary Therapy for Obesity is a Failure and Pharmacotherapy is the Future: A Point of View. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology 33: 857-862, 2006.

Links of Interest

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