The study is part of a Specialized Centers of Research initiative in the Molecular Genetics of Hypertension. The initiative originated in deliberations of the September 1992 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council. In May 1993, a program evaluation committee convened by the NHLBI was charged with the task of assessing the overall goals of the Hypertension SCOR program and of recommending areas of future need. The committee's recommendations formed the basis of this proposed initiative which was released as a Request for Applications in December, 1993.