Sarah Walton

Sarah Walton is a Research Fellow in Physiology at the Victorian Heart Institute (VHI), Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University. She is actively involved in research on cardiovascular physiology, hypertension, kidney disease, and developmental programming, with a focus on pregnancy and sex differences. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being.

Research Interests: Her research spans gestational hypertension, renal and cardiac injury, sex- and age-related differences in disease, sympathetic nerve regulation, and microbiome interactions in hypertension. She investigates molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying cardiovascular and renal pathologies, particularly in developmental and hypertensive contexts.

Publication Trends: Her recent publications (2022–2024) reflect a strong focus on hypertension mechanisms, organ damage in disease models, and novel therapeutic targets such as the C-type natriuretic peptide pathway. There is a clear emphasis on sex differences, aging, and interdisciplinary approaches combining physiology, pharmacology, and microbiology.

Scientific Awards:

• Australian Postgraduate Award (2013)
• ASMR Queensland Postgraduate Research Student Award (2016)
• Cardiovascular-Metabolic Disease Program Seed Grant (2020)
• BIHS Visiting Prize Winner (2022)
• Early Career Researcher Editorial Fellowship, American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology (2022)

Advising and Grants: Dr. Walton is accepting PhD students and has led independent research projects. She was the Primary Chief Investigator on a 2019 project funded by Hypertension Australia Ltd and is a Chief Investigator on an active multi-institutional project (2022–2025) exploring sex differences in cellular aging and cardiovascular disease. She has also served as a peer reviewer for the American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology.

Labs and Teams: She is affiliated with the Victorian Heart Institute (VHI) at Monash University and collaborates with a multidisciplinary team including Prof. Kate Denton, Dr. Kimberley Colafella, Prof. Vasiliki Garovic, and others. Her work involves animal models, molecular physiology, and translational research approaches.