John C. Burnett Jr., M.D., studies the endocrine role of the heart in cardiorenal homeostasis with a focus on the natriuretic peptides in heart failure, hypertension and myocardial infarction. The long-term goal is the engineering and clinical development of novel designer natriuretic peptides for the treatment of human cardiorenal disease, including the development of innovative natriuretic peptide-based diagnostics.

With continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Burnett and his team have developed three novel designer peptides currently in clinical trials targeting heart failure and resistant hypertension. From this work, seven patents have been awarded and three new biotechnology companies founded.