The COUNCIL FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, operating as a council of the AMERICAN HEART ASSN. in 1994, was founded in Cleveland in 1945 as the National Foundation for High Blood Pressure to encourage research into the causes of high blood pressure. The council's support of local as well as national research has made Cleveland a leading center for high blood pressure research. Founders were IRVINE PAGE, George E. Merrifield, Frank E. Joseph, and ALVA BRADLEY. In 1947 the name was changed to the American Foundation for High Blood Pressure. Two years later it merged with the American Heart Assn. to become its council on high blood pressure research. Since the merger, the council has been managed by the Heart Assn.'s national office in Dallas. Since 1966 the council has awarded the Stouffer Prize (for exceptional breakthroughs in research in blood pressure and hardening of the arteries) at its annual international conference. The $50,000 research award is considered one of the most prestigious in the field.
See also MEDICINE, HOSPITALS AND HEALTH PLANNING.