D. Walter Wray

D. Walter Wray, PhD, MSc

Languages spoken: English

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Internal Medicine

Divisions: Geriatrics

Dr. Wray joined the Division of Geriatrics at the University of Utah as a Research Assistant Professor in 2008. He is a founding member of the Utah Vascular Research Laboratory (www.uvrl.org), a consortium that is affiliated with the University of Utah (Departments of Internal Medicine and Nutrition and Integrative Physiology) and the Salt Lake City Veterans Administration Medical Center Geriatrics, Research, Education and Clinical Center (SLC VAMC GRECC).

Dr. Wray maintains an active, extramurally-funded research program within the UVRL that is broadly focused on vascular and autonomic physiology, with an emphasis on aging and age-related diseases such as heart failure (HF). Current projects include studies examining neurohumoral control of muscle blood flow at rest and during acute exercise, and studies focused on determining the causes and consequences of chronic sympathoexcitation in HF.

Education History

Undergraduate Abilene Christian University
 BSc
Graduate Training University of North Texas Health Science Center
 MSc
Doctoral Training University of North Texas Health Science Center
 PhD
Postdoctoral Fellowship University of California San Diego
 Postdoctoral Fellow

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Bunsawat K, Ratchford SM, Alpenglow JK, Park SH, Jarrett CL, Stehlik J, Drakos SG, Richardson RS, Wray D (2020). Chronic antioxidant administration restores macrovascular function in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Experimental physiology, 105(8), 1384-1395.
  2. Ely MR, Ratchford SM, La Salle DT, Trinity JD, Wray DW, Halliwill J (2020). Effect of histamine-receptor antagonism on leg blood flow during exercise. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md., 128(6), 1626-1634.
  3. Bunsawat K, Ratchford SM, Alpenglow JK, Park SH, Jarrett CL, Stehlik J, Smith AS, Richardson RS, Wray D (2021). Sacubitril-valsartan improves conduit vessel function and functional capacity and reduces inflammation in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md., 130(1), 256-268.
  4. Ratchford SM, Clifton HL, La Salle DT, Broxterman RM, Lee JF, Ryan JJ, Hopkins PN, Wright JB, Trinity JD, Richardson RS, Wray D (2020). Cardiovascular responses to rhythmic handgrip exercise in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md., 129(6), 1267-1276.
  5. Craig JC, Broxterman RM, La Salle DT, Cerbie J, Ratchford SM, Gifford JR, Bunsawat K, Nelson AD, Bledsoe AD, Morgan DE, Wray DW, Richardson RS, Trinity J (2020). The role of endothelin A receptors in peripheral vascular control at rest and during exercise in patients with hypertension. The Journal of physiology, 598(1), 71-84.
  6. Limberg JK, Casey DP, Trinity JD, Nicholson WT, Wray DW, Tschakovsky ME, Green DJ, Hellsten Y, Fadel PJ, Joyner MJ, Padilla (2020). Assessment of resistance vessel function in human skeletal muscle: guidelines for experimental design, Doppler ultrasound, and pharmacology. American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology, 318(2), H301-H325.
  7. Witman MA, McDaniel J, Fjeldstad AS, Ives SJ, Zhao J, Nativi JN, Stehlik J, Wray DW, Richardson R (2012). A differing role of oxidative stress in the regulation of central and peripheral hemodynamics during exercise in heart failure. American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology, 303(10), H1237-44.
  8. Hydren JR, Gifford JR, Jarrett CL, Park SH, Shields KL, Broxterman RM, Kithas AC, Bisconti AV, Thurston TS, Ratchford SM, Wray DW, Stehlik J, Selzman CH, Drakos SG, Richardson R (2021). Vascular Function in Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Recipients: Effect of a Single Pulsatility Treatment Session. American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology, 320(4), R425-R437.
  9. Machin DR, Clifton HL, Wray DW, Frech TM, Donato A (2022). Tetrahydrobiopterin Administration Augments Exercise-Induced Hyperemia and Endothelial Function in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis. Frontiers in medicine, 8, 791689.
  10. Stute NL, Stickford ASL, Stickford JL, Province VM, Augenreich MA, Bunsawat K, Alpenglow JK, Wray DW, Ratchford S (2021). Altered central and peripheral haemodynamics during rhythmic handgrip exercise in young adults with SARS-CoV-2. Experimental physiology, 107(7), 708-721.
  11. Bunsawat K, Clifton HL, Ratchford SM, Vranish JR, Alpenglow JK, Haykowsky MJ, Trinity JD, Ryan JJ, Fadel PJ, Wray D (2023). Cardiovascular Responses to Static Handgrip Exercise and Post-Exercise Ischemia in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. Journal of applied physiology, 134(6), 1508-1519.
  12. Fermoyle CC, La Salle DT, Alpenglow JK, Craig JC, Jarrett CL, Broxterman RM, McKenzie AI, Morgan DE, Birgenheier NM, Wray DW, Richardson RS, Trinity J (2023). Pharmacological modulation of adrenergic tone alters the vasodilatory response to passive leg movement in young but not in old adults. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md., 134(5), 1124-1134.
  13. Ratchford SM, Bunsawat K, Alpenglow JK, Zhao J, Wright JB, Ryan JJ, Wray D (2023). Improved vascular function and functional capacity following l-citrulline administration in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a single-arm, open-label, prospective pilot study. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md., 134(2), 328-338.
  14. Iacovelli JJ, Alpenglow JK, Ratchford SM, Craig JC, Simmons JM, Zhao J, Reese V, Bunsawat K, Ma CL, Ryan JJ, Wray D (2024). Statin administration improves vascular function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Journal of applied physiology, 136(4), 877-888.
  15. Alpenglow JK, Bunsawat K, Francisco MA, Craig JC, Iacovelli JJ, Ryan JJ, Wray D (2024). Impaired cardiopulmonary baroreflex function and altered cardiovascular responses to hypovolemia in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Journal of applied physiology, 136(3), 525-534.
  16. Alpenglow JK, Bunsawat K, Francisco MA, Craig JC, Iacovelli JJ, Ryan JJ, Wray D (2023). Evidence of impaired functional sympatholysis in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology, 325(4), H806-H813.
  17. Ratchford SM, Clifton HL, Gifford JR, LaSalle DT, Thurston TS, Bunsawat K, Alpenglow JK, Wright JB, Amann M, Ryan JJ, Wray D (2025). Impact of Acute Antioxidant and Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)) Administration on Locomotor Muscle Microvascular Function in Patients With Heart Failure. Circulation. Heart failure, 18(6), e012446.
  18. Hanson BE, Lee JF, Garten RS, Barrett-O'Keefe Z, Layec G, Ruple BA, Wray DW, Richardson RS, Trinity J (2025). Acute sympathetic activation blunts the hyperemic and vasodilatory response to passive leg movement in young healthy males. Physiological reports, 13(5), e70180.
  19. Iacovelli JJ, Alpenglow JK, Ratchford SM, Craig JC, Simmons JM, Zhao J, Reese V, Bunsawat K, Ma CL, Ryan JJ, Wray D (2024). Statin therapy improves locomotor muscle microvascular reactivity in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology, 327(4), H859-H865.
  20. Alpenglow JK, Bunsawat K, Francisco MA, Broxterman RM, Craig JC, Iacovelli JJ, Weavil JC, Harrison JD, Morgan DE, Silverton NA, Reese VR, Ma CL, Ryan JJ, Wray D (2024). ¿-Adrenergic regulation of skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The Journal of physiology, 602(14), 3401-3422.
  21. Hanson BE, Lee JF, Garten RS, O'Keefe ZB, Layec G, Ruple BA, Wray DW, Richardson RS, Trinity J (2024). Acute sympathetic activation blunts the hyperemic and vasodilatory response to passive leg movement. Research square,

Review

  1. Bunsawat K, Nelson MD, Hearon CM Jr, Wray D (2024). Exercise intolerance in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Causes, consequences and the journey towards a cure. Experimental physiology, 109(4), 502-512.
  2. Bunsawat K, Skow RJ, Kaur J, Wray D (2023). Neural control of the circulation during exercise in heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction. American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology, 325(5), H998-H1011.
  3. Iannetta D, Laginestra FG, Wray DW, Amann (2025). Dissecting the exercise pressor reflex in heart failure: A multi-step failure. Autonomic neuroscience, 259, 103269.

Letter

  1. Bunsawat K, Ratchford SM, Alpenglow JK, Ryan JJ, Richardson RS, Wray D (2021). Direct Assessment of Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity During Exercise in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Case Report. Journal of cardiac failure, 27(1), 114-116.

Other

  1. Venturelli M, Rossman MJ, Ives SJ, Weavil JC, Amann M, Wray DW, Richardson R (2022). Passive leg movement-induced vasodilation and exercise-induced sympathetic vasoconstriction. Autonomic neuroscience, 239, 102969.
  2. Ratchford SM, Lee JF, Bunsawat K, Alpenglow JK, Zhao J, Ma CL, Ryan JJ, Khor LL, Wray D (2022). The impact of obesity on the regulation of muscle blood flow during exercise in patients with heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md., 132(5), 1240-1249.
  3. Bisconti AV, Garten RS, Broxterman RM, Jarrett CL, Park SH, Shields KL, Clifton HL, Ratchford SM, Reese V, Zhao J, Wray DW, Richardson R (2022). No effect of acute tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) supplementation on vascular dysfunction in the old. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md., 132(3), 773-784.
  4. Francisco MA, Lee JF, Barrett-O'Keefe Z, Groot HJ, Ratchford SM, Bunsawat K, Alpenglow JK, Ryan JJ, Nativi JN, Richardson RS, Wray D (2021). Locomotor Muscle Microvascular Dysfunction in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction. Hypertension (Dallas, Tex., 78(6), 1750-1759.
  5. Bunsawat K, Ratchford SM, Alpenglow JK, Stehlik J, Smith AS, Richardson RS, Wray D (2021). Sympathoinhibitory effect of sacubitril-valsartan in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: A pilot study. Autonomic neuroscience, 235, 102834.