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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL HEAR FROM THE NEW CHAIR OF MAG, THE MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT.

>>> A RESEARCH PROJECT FOCUSED ON ABUSE VICTIMS WHO CAN'T ALWAYS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

>>> AND A NEW PROGRAM USES PACEMAKERS AS A WAY TO CONTROL HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE J.D.

VANCE THIS MORNING WRAPPED UP HIS TWO-DAY CAMPAIGN STOP IN ARIZONA WITH A TOUR OF THE SOUTHERN U.S. BORDER IN COCHISE COUNTY.

VANCE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO CRITICIZE THE BORDER POLICIES OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS.

>> IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE UNTIL YOU SEE IT WITH YOUR OWN EYES JUST HOW BAD THE POLICIES OF THE KAMALA HARRIS ADMINISTRATION HAVE BEEN WHEN IT COMES TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

THEY STARTED THEIR ADMINISTRATION.

KAMALA HARRIS CAME INTO OFFICE MAKING PROMISES AND KEPT THOSE PROMISES TO OPEN THE AMERICAN SOUTHERN BORDER.

IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

IT IS UNBELIEVABLE WHAT WE'RE LETTING HAPPEN AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND LETTING IT HAPPEN BECAUSE KAMALA HARRIS REFUSES TO DO HER JOB.

TED: VANCE ADDED A PERSONAL STORY TO EMPHASIZE HIS CRITICISM.

>> I HAVE BEEN A LITTLE KID WAITING AT THE BEDSIDE OF HIS MOTHER, ANGRY THAT HIS MOM TOOK SOMETHING SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN BUT PRAYING TO GOD, PLEASE, JESUS, LET HER WAKE UP, AND THE UNFORTUNATE TRUTH IS BECAUSE OF THE POISON THAT KAMALA HARRIS HAS LET COME INTO THIS COUNTRY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THOSE PRAYERS THAT WON'T BE ANSWERED.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PARENTS THAT WON'T WAKE UP BECAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE FENTANYL, YOU DON'T WAKE UP, IT TAKES YOUR LIFE.

TED: WITH THAT, VANCE MADE HIS WAY UP TO SIERRA VISTA TO DEPART FOR HIS HOME IN OHIO.

>>> STILL NO WORD FOR A RUNNING MATE FOR KAMALA HARRIS.

ARIZONA SENATOR MARK KELLY IS STILL REPORTEDLY VERY MUCH IN THE MIX BUT KELLY CONTINUES TO SIDE STEP QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE DECISION.

KELLY HAD AN OPINION ON TRUMP'S COMBATIVE APPEARANCE BEFORE THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS.

>> MY FIRST REACTION WAS THIS IS THE REACTION OF A DESPERATE AND SCARED OLD MAN.

IT'S VERY OBVIOUS TO ME WATCHING HIM, WHILE SHE IS ACROSS THE COUNTRY KICKING HIS BUTT.

HE'S AFRAID, PROBABLY AFRAID TO DEBATE HER, CERTAINLY AFRAID TO LOSE AN ELECTION TO HER IN NOVEMBER AND AFRAID ABOUT HIS OWN FUTURE.

TED: KELLY ADDED HE WAS NOT SURPRISED BY TRUMP'S BEHAVIOR.

>> DONALD TRUMP HAS SHOWN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO HE IS.

HE'S BEEN DOING THIS NOW FOR A DECADE.

IF YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION, BEFORE THAT, HE WAS DOING IT BEFORE HE WAS ON THE NATIONAL STAGE AS WELL.

SO OF COURSE HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO IT.

THAT'S ALL HE CAN DO.

THIS IS ALL HE HAS IN HIS PLAYBOOK AND TO BE HONEST, IT'S SAD.

IT'S REALLY SAD TO WATCH.

TED: ONE MORE HEADLINE, THIS IS A HEALTH NOTE.

A NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT TAKING ASPIRIN ON A REGULAR BASIS MAY HELP LOWER THE RISK OF COLORECTAL CANCER.

STUDIES SHOW THOSE WHO REGULARLY TOOK ASPIRIN HAD AN 18% LOWER RISK AND THE REDUCED RISK WAS MORE PRONOUNCED IN THOSE WITH UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLES ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO SMOKE CIGARETTES AND HAD A HIGHER BODY MASS INDEX.

ASPIRIN WITH REDUCE THE PRODUCTION OF INFLAMMATORY PROTEINS THAT CAN PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF CANCER.

>>> THE MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS KNOWN AS MAG, HAS A NEW CHAIR.

HE IS KEVIN HARTKE, THE MAYOR OF CHANDLER.

MAYOR HARTKE JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT HIS VISION FOR THE REGIONAL ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US?

GOOD TO BE BACK.

TED: FOR FOLKS WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH MAG AND THE MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS, WHAT IS IT?

>> MAG IS A PLANNING AGENCY THAT REPRESENTS ALL OF THE CITIES AND AGENCIES AS WELL AS THE TRIBES IN THE GREATER MARICOPA AREA.

SO IT REPRESENTS 33 ENTITIES.

27 CITIES, PINAL COUNTY, MARICOPA COUNTY AND ADOT.

SO IT HAS A LARGE SCOPE.

IT'S QUITE ENGAGED IN AREAS THAT CROSS JURISDICTIONS LIKE TRANSPORTATION, HOMELESSNESS, HEAT RELIEF AND AIR QUALITY.

TED: AND HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO GET ALL OF THOSE ENTITIES TOGETHER ON THE SAME PAGE?

IS IT LIKE HERDING CATS SOMETIMES?

>> YOU KNOW, SURPRISINGLY NOT.

MAYORS ARE PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND COLLABORATION AND ON THESE BIG ISSUES, WE WANT TO COME TOGETHER BECAUSE WE REALIZE THAT WHAT AFFECTS PHOENIX OR GOODYEAR ALSO AFFECTS CHANDLER.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY IN THE DIM AND DISTANT PAST, PROVERBIALISM REAREDIS UGLY HEAD, SEEING LESS OF THAT.

>> DEFINITELY SEEING LESS.

TED: TRANSPORTATION IS BIG, BECAUSE YOU GO FROM ONE FLEECE ANOTHER.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

IS THAT A PRIORITY OF YOURS, A?

AND, B, IF SO, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

>> DEFINITELY A PRIORITY.

AND WE WERE INVOLVED AS MAYORS IN MAG TO WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS TO PUT TOGETHER WHAT IS NOW PROP 479, WHICH IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FORM WAS APPROVED BY OUR LEGISLATORS AND WILL BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, SO IF OUR VOTERS APPROVE THIS, WE ARE READY TO IMPLEMENT THIS.

IT WILL HELP WITH FREEWAYS, WITH ROADS, WITH CYCLING PATHS, WITH MASS TRANSPORTATION AND SOME OTHER THINGS AS WELL.

TED: OKAY, AND OBVIOUSLY THE EFFORT IS TO GET THE WORD OUT AND GET THE VOTE OUT.

IS THERE A CONTINGENCY PLAN IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS DOESN'T PASS?

>> BOY, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK EVERY CITY, THEN, IS THROWN INTO WHAT DO WE DO?

AND THERE'S SO MANY OF THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE HUGE LIKE FREEWAY PROJECTS THAT HAVE A LONG RUNWAY IN TERMS OF PLANNING.

IF THIS IS INTERRUPTED, IT WILL CERTAINLY THROW THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM INTO THE AIR, AND WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON HAVING A MUCH SHORTER COMMUTE THAN CITIES LIKE L.A. OR HOUSTON OR DENVER, BUT IF THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN, IT WILL SEVERELY INCREASE OUR TIME ON THE STREETS.

TED: OTHER ASPECTS OF TRANSPORTATION, ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

INFRASTRUCTURE TO ADAPT TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND IS THERE A PATHWAY THERE?

>> THERE DEFINITELY IS, AND MAG IS ALSO CONVENING THESE TYPES OF SESSIONS WORKING WITH POWER GRID COMPANIES, APS, SRP, TALKING WITH CITIES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE AWARE OF THE NEED AND LOOKING AT GRANTS THAT COULD HELP SUSTAIN THE VALLEY.

THIS ALSO HELPS OUR AIR QUALITY, WHICH IS ANOTHER ONE OUR BIG ASSIGNMENTS.

TED: YEAH, AND I WANT TO GET TO AIR QUALITY IN A SECOND HERE.

WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND TECHNOLOGY IN GENERAL, YOU'RE A MAYOR AND YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY THE CHAIR OF MAG NOW.

HOW DO YOU -- THE GOALPOSTS MOVE WITH TECHNOLOGY QUITE A BIT.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE THAT?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE ALSO IN THE 479 PLAN IS FUNDING INNOVATIONS THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TOTALLY.

MAYOR OF PHOENIX, MAYOR GALLEGO, MYSELF AND OTHERS SAW THAT AS A STRONG, IMPORTANT INGREDIENT BECAUSE THIS FUNDING SOURCE WILL CONTINUE FOR 20 YEARS, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH CLOSER WE'LL BE TO THE JETSONS AT THAT TIME.

TED: LET'S TALK ABOUT OZONE POLLUTION, THAT'S A PRIORITY.

POLLUTION IN GENERAL.

OZONE, WHY OZONE IN PARTICULAR?

>> OZONE IS CERTAINLY A NOXIOUS INGREDIENT THAT WE HAVE SOME ELEMENTS PRODUCING IT HERE, BUT WE ARE ALSO IMPORTING A LOT OF OZONE, FROM CALIFORNIA EVEN FROM ASIA.

THERE'S A LOT OF THIS ISSUE THAT WE ARE FINDING IT TO BE A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW BECAUSE WE ARE NOT CERTAIN THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THE REDUCTIONS NECESSARY IN LIGHT OF THIS LOOMING SERIOUS DESIGNATION THAT MAY BE UPON US SOON.

TED: I WAS GOING TO SAY, TALK ABOUT THE EPA AND WHAT THE EPA WANTS TO SEE AND HOW REALISTIC THAT IS?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO SEE.

WE WILL PUT TOGETHER A PLAN.

WHAT I WANT TO DO IS I DON'T LIKE TO PUT TOGETHER PLANS THAT ARE ON PAPER ONLY, JUST TO GIVE YOU TIME TO DO SOMETHING, SO WE'RE WORKING WITH OTHER INTERMOUNTAIN CITIES SUCH AS DENVER, SALT LAKE AND OTHERS TO TRY TO GET THE EPA TO DO A STUDY TO SEE WHERE DOES OZONE COME FROM.

TED: SO THERE IS MODELING GOING ON AND BEST PRACTICES AND THE WHOLE NINE YARDS?

>> YES.

>> HEAT RELIEF, A BIG ISSUE THIS TIME OF YEAR OBVIOUSLY.

BUT I WOULD IMAGINE EVERY CITY HAS CONCERNS REGARDING HEAT RELIEF.

WHAT'S MAG DOING ABOUT IT?

>> SO MAG IS COORDINATING AND WORKING WITH EVERY CITY AS WELL AS MAPPING AND IDENTIFYING COOLING STATIONS.

HEAT RELIEF STATIONS AND ENCOURAGING CITIES TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO MORE OF.

VERY OFTEN, HEAT RELIEF IS CONNECTED WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND LAST YEAR WAS AN UNFORTUNATE RECORD YEAR OF PEOPLE DYING ON THE STREETS.

WE WOULD LOVE TO GET A HANDLE ON THAT AND REDUCE THAT NUMBER DRASTICALLY.

TED: FROM YOUR POSITION AS A MAYOR AND NOW CHAIR OF MAG, LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

SUPREME COURT DECISION COMES DOWN, AND I WANT TO KNOW HOW THAT IMPACTS CHANDLER AND HOW THAT IMPACTS THE VALLEY?

>> RELATED TO THE CASE IN OREGON?

TED: CAMPING, YES.

>> SO IT'S GOT US ALL RELOOKING AT THIS.

I KNOW FOR US AS A CITY, IT ALLOWS US HOPEFULLY TO HAVE A FEW MORE TEETH TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM OCCUPYING A BUS STATION, FOR EXAMPLE, AND NOT ALLOWING IT TO BE -- AND CAMPING IN THERE, NOT ALLOWING IT TO BE USED.

WE DON'T HAVE QUITE THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUES THAT CENTRAL CITIES AND OTHERS DO, BUT IT WILL CERTAINLY BE A NEW TOOL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE MOVE ALONG RATHER THAN JUST CAMPING ALONG STREETS AND PARKS.

>> IS THAT A WAY, CAN COOPERATION PLAY A PART IN THAT?

>> YES, AND ONE OF OUR OTHER ISSUES OUR WAYS WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH MAG IS PUT TOGETHER A PLAN TO IDENTIFY AND SEE HOW WE CAN WORK ON HOUSING, MODEL THIS BETTER, MAP THIS BETTER, AND LOWER HOMELESSNESS BY 25% IS OUR GOAL IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

TED: MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING THE NEW CHAIR OF MAG AND LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.

>> MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

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TED: THE ARIZONA DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PLANNING COUNCIL IS WORKING ON A REPORT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT IT CALLS THE DISTURBINGLY HIGH RATE OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE TARGETING ARIZONANS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

JOINING US IS JON MEYERS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ADDPC.

THIS IS A TOUGH TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

THIS IS CALLED THE UNTOLD STORIES RESEARCH PROJECT, WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> THIS PROJECT IS REALLY THE CULMINATION OF ABOUT THREE YEARS OF WORK DONE BY DR. LIN THOMASA, A RESEARCHER AT UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA AFFILIATED WITH SONORAN CENTER IN EXCELLENCE WITH DISABILITIES.

IT IS FOCUSED ON LIVED EXPERIENCES ON THOSE WHO HAVE INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ABUSE OR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.

TED: SOMETHING THAT INSPIRED THIS THAT SPURRED THIS ON OR NEEDED TO BE DONE?

>> IT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THE HACIENDA INCIDENT OF 2018 HERE IN THE VALLEY, WAS THE IMPETUS OF A LOT OF WORK IN ARIZONA ON THE TOPIC OF SEXUAL ABUSE AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD, THOUGH CERTAINLY THE PROBLEM DIDN'T BEGIN THERE, IT'S BEEN AROUND FOREVER, AND SO AS A COUNCIL, WE DECIDED IT WAS IMPORTANT TO FUND RESEARCH TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM.

TED: THAT WAS FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MIND WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THIS BEING A TOPIC HERE.

INTERVIEWING SURVIVORS, VICTIMS, BOTH.

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

THAT'S GOT TO BE DIFFICULT.

>> IT IS A TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE.

IT REQUIRES SOME EXTRAORDINARY SKILL AND EXTRAORDINARY TRAINING.

I WILL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE FAR TOO FEW INDIVIDUALS IN ARIZONA WHO HAVE EITHER THE TRAINING OR THE SKILL TO DO IT, AND SO IT PRESENTS TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF SERVING, ADEQUATELY SERVING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SURVIVORS OF THIS KIND OF INCIDENT.

IT IS A PROBLEM THAT WE CONTINUE TO FACE, AND ONE WE'RE TRYING TO FIND REMEDIES FOR.

TED: I WAS GOING TO SAY IT'S GOT TO BE DIFFICULT TO SET UP THE INTERVIEWS, DIFFICULT TO ASK THE QUESTIONS.

>> ONE OF THE GREATEST DIFFICULTIES WE FIND ARE FINDING PEOPLE WILLING TO SPEAK ABOUT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

TED: YEAH.

>> IT IS SOMETHING THAT OFTEN CAUSES SHAME FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH IT.

ISSUES OF DISTRUST, AND FAR TOO SELDOM IS IT ACTUALLY DISCLOSED.

TED: BUT ONCE THEY SPEAK, ONCE THEY GET THE INFORMATION OUT, I WOULD IMAGINE KNOWING THIS COULD POSSIBLY HELP IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, HAS TO RELIEVE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

>> IT CAN, CERTAINLY, ALTHOUGH -- AND I HATE TO PUT A DARK LINING ON A SILVER CLOUD, IT IS SOMETIMES RETRAUMATIZING FOR INDIVIDUALS TO SPEAK ABOUT IT BECAUSE MANY OF THE SYSTEMS WE HAVE SET UP DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO IT APPROPRIATELY, DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO ELICIT THE RIGHT INFORMATION AND TOO OFTEN CAUSE THE VICTIMS TO LIVE THROUGH TRAUMA OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

TED: WAS THERE A COMMON DENOMINATOR, IS THERE A COMMON DENOMINATOR IN THE STORIES YOU'RE HEARING FROM THESE FOLKS?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY THERE'S A COMMON DENOMINATOR, BUT THERE ARE ATTRIBUTES TO THE STORIES THAT WE FIND RECURRING.

ONE IS THAT OFTEN PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE LISTENED TO, NOT GOING TO BE BELIEVED.

THAT'S A PROBLEM WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND CAREGIVERS, A PROBLEM WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, SERVICE PROVIDERS.

MANY ARE NOT TRAINED TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGNS OF ABUSE, SO THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE THEM EVEN WHEN FAIRLY EVIDENT TO AN EXPERT.

THERE ARE JUST THE ISSUES THAT, AS I SAID, RECUR, AND THE INDIVIDUALS AS A RESULT ARE NOT WILLING TO SHARE THEIR STORIES FOR FEAR THAT THEY WON'T BE BELIEVED OR LISTENED TO.

TED: ONCE THE STORIES ARE SHARED, THOUGH, WHERE DO WE GO FROM THIS?

WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM THE REPORT?

>> WHAT WE TAKE FROM THE REPORT IS SYSTEMICALLY WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO DO, WHETHER IT'S THE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE, THE ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES RESPONSE, PROVIDER RESPONSE, THE CAREGIVER RESPONSE, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER AT LISTENING TO INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVED THROUGH THESE EXPERIENCES AND WILLING TO SHARE THEM.

DO BETTER TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THEM.

WHEN INDIVIDUALS SHARE THEIR STORIES, WE'VE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO WANT A QUICK ANSWER, A QUICK DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED AND SIMPLY DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COGNITIVE CHALLENGES.

WE NEED A SYSTEM WILLING TO ELICIT THIS SITUATION OVER TIME.

IN A WAY THAT MAKES PROSECUTION A POSSIBILITY.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE TO THE PROJECT?

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VERY DISTURBED BY THE INFORMATION WE SHARED.

SOME OF THE INFORMATION IN THE REPORT IS NOT NECESSARILY GRAPHIC BUT CERTAINLY DOES EXPLORE WHAT PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH IN SOME DETAIL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WILLING NOW TO DO MORE TO HELP BRING ABOUT SYSTEMIC CHANGES, BUT WHAT WE FIND IS THAT COLLABORATION, COORDINATION REMAIN SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFICULT FOR THOSE OF US WHO WORK IN THIS AREA.

THERE ARE SO MANY PIECES INVOLVED, SO MANY SYSTEMS INVOLVED, AND WE SIMPLY HAVE MUCH MORE WORK TO DO TO GET EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER, EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT MAKING IMPROVEMENTS.

TED: GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT HERE.

HOW DO YOU GET THE COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE?

>> SIMPLY GOING TO TAKE TIME.

AS I SAID, WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THE VICTIMS MORE, NEED TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH, PROVIDE BETTER TRAINING FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, BETTER TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY MEANS GETTING EVERYBODY AROUND THE TABLE AND COMING TO AGREEMENT ON WHAT WE CAN DO AND IT'S AN ISSUE OF RESOURCES.

WE SIMPLY NEED MORE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO HELP SERVE THE SYSTEM THAT RESPONDS TO THESE EVENTS.

>> JON MEYERS, ADDCP, IMPORTANT TOPIC, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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TED: A NEW CLINICAL TRIAL IS LOOKING AT THE USE OF PACEMAKERS AS A WAY TO HELP CONTROL HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

WE LEARN MORE FROM DR. RAUL DOSHI AT SCOTTSDALE'S HONORHEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, GOOD TO YOU HAVE ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

START WITH THE BASICS HERE.

WHAT IS A PACEMAKER?

>> SO A PACEMAKER IS A FULLY IMPLANTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE THAT IS BASICALLY DESIGNED TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM HAVING A SLOW HEART RATE.

SO IT SORT OF CAN LOOK AT YOUR OWN HEART'S ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY WHICH COORDINATES HOW THE HEART CONTRACTS AND FILLS IN WHERE YOU DON'T.

IF YOU HAVE A TENDENCY FOR SLOW HEART RATES IN THE UPPER CHAMBERS, LOWER CHAMBERS, THE DEVICE CAN SEE THAT AND STIMULATE THE HEART TO CAUSE A HEART BEAT.

TED: OKAY, THAT'S A PACEMAKER, HOW IN THE WORLD IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP WITH WHAT YOU DESCRIBED AND BLOOD PRESSURE, ESPECIALLY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED.

THIS IS VERY NOVEL AND WONDERFUL, NEW TECHNOLOGY WE'RE INVESTIGATING AT HONORHEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE.

THE DEVICE IS A TRADITIONAL PACEMAKER, THAT'S THE FIRST PART OF IT.

THESE ARE FOR FOLKS THAT ARE INDICATED FOR PACEMAKER IMPLANTATION, SO THEY TYPICALLY HAVE A TENDENCY OR HAVE A CHRONIC SLOW HEART RATE PROBLEM, BUT A PACEMAKER, ALL PACEMAKERS COORDINATE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTION BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER CHAMBERS.

YOU HAVE THE TWO UPPER CHAMBERS, ATRIA, THE TWO LOWER CHAMBERS AND VENTRICLES AND COORDINATE A NORMAL HEART BEAT.

THE TIMING OF THE UPPER AND LOWER CHAMBERS CAN AFFECT SOMEONE'S BLOOD PRESSURE.

BOTH BY CHANGING HOW THE HEART FILLS UP WITH BLOOD AND EJECTS IT, BY MODULATING HOW THE BODY THINKS IT NEEDS TO REGULATE BLOOD PRESSURE, VEERING THAT TIMING CAUSES THAT CHANGE, SO THIS NOVEL TECHNOLOGY ESSENTIALLY VARIES THAT TIMING BETWEEN THE UPPER AND CLOWER CHAMBER OF CONTRACTION AND DEMONSTRATED TO REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE.

TED: THERE IS SOMETHING INHERENT IN PACEMAKERS THAT CAN CONTROL BLOOD PRESSURE?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

A STANDARD PACEMAKER DOES NOT DO THIS, BUT THIS INVESTIGATIONAL ALGORITHM AND REALLY IS AN ELECTRONIC ALGORITHM, PROGRAMMABLE INTO THE DEVICE, ALLOWS YOU TO DO THIS.

TED: ARE THEY INDIVIDUALLY TUNED ALGORITHMS OR A GENERAL ALGORITHM?

>> YES, IT'S BOTH.

THERE IS A GENERAL ALGORITHM BUT FINE TUNED DEPENDING ON THE RESPONSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL PATIENT, AND THE KEY PART HERE IS REMEMBER, THIS IS DOING IT AUTOMATICALLY, BEAT TO BEAT AND AFFECTING BLOOD PRESSURE IN REALTIME WITHOUT MEDICATIONS, RIGHT?

SO MANY FOLKS SAKE MEDICATION UPON MEDICATION FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE CONTROL.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY.

TED: SO, AGAIN, ARE THESE SPECIAL AND/OR SPECIFIC PACEMAKERS, OR IS THIS YOUR GENERAL RUN OF THE MILL PACEMAKER HERE?

>> YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS BOTH.

THIS IS A RUN-OF-THE-MILL PACEMAKER THAT WE IMPLANT EVERY DAY IN FOLKS.

THE PACEMAKER IS MADE BY THE BIGGEST PACEMAKER MANUFACTURER IN THE WORLD, MEDTRONIC, BUT THE ALGORITHM THAT VARIES THE TIMING IS INVESTIGATIONAL AND ONLY UPLOAD IT IN PATIENTS THAT ARE IN THE CLINICAL TRIAL.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE STUDYING?

>> UH-HUH.

TED: WHAT ABOUT FOLKS THAT HAVE A NORMAL HEART BEAT THAT DON'T NEED A PACEMAKER, CAN YOU HAVE A PACEMAKER IN THEM IF THEY HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

>> THAT IS THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION, PROBABLY A BILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION, RIGHT?

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE INVESTIGATED IN THE FUTURE, BUT THE FIRST PREMISE, BECAUSE, OF COURSE, EVERYTHING WE DO IN MEDICINE IS DO NO HARM, SO THESE ARE PATIENTS THAT ARE INDICATED FOR A PACEMAKER, THEY'RE GETTING ONE ANYWAY, AND THUS, THEY'RE NOT UNDERGOING AN ADDITIONAL RISK OF AN INNOVATIVE PROCEDURE.

IF THIS WORKS, YOU CAN IMAGINE, THIS COULD BE USED AS STAND ALONE THERAPY.

TED: I WAS GOING TO SAY, THE INVASIVE NATURE OF GETTING A PACEMAKER, DOES THAT SUPERSEDE THE PROBLEMS THAT CAN BE HAD WHEN BLOOD PRESSURE IS SKY HIGH.

>> FULL DISCLOSURE AS ELECTRO PHYSIOLOGIST WHO PUTS IN PACEMAKERS EVERY DAY FOR MANY YEARS.

TO ME THIS IS A RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD THING AND I THINK THE DATA SUGGESTS THEY ARE SUCH SAFE DEVICES TO IMPLANT.

THEY'RE BECOMING MORE AND MOW, OR I SHOULD SAY LESS AND LESS INVASIVE.

SO I DO THINK YOU CAN SEE A PLACE WHERE THE RISKS CLEARLY ARE OUTWEIGHED BY THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS, SO I CAN SEE THAT HAPPENING ABSOLUTELY.

TED: FOR THOSE IN THE TRIAL, WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY'RE JUST OVERLOADING WITH SALT AND OVERLOADING WITH KINDS OF THINGS THAT NATURALLY RAISE BLOOD PRESSURE?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> OBVIOUSLY, THESE ARE FACTORS THAT WE DON'T KNOW TRULY WHAT THE INTERACTION BETWEEN ALL THESE OTHER FACTORS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEDICATIONS, THINGS LIKE DIET OR OTHER THINGS THAT CAN AFFECT BLOOD PRESSURE, HOW THEY INTERACT WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, BUT THEY CERTAINLY CAUSE INCREASED BLOOD PRESSURE, SO PART OF ANY BLOOD PRESSURE TREATMENT REGIMENT IS MULTIFACTORIAL.

IT IS DIET, EXERCISE, IT IS TAKING MEDICATIONS AS PRESCRIBED, BUT IT MAY BE SOMETHING LIKE THIS IF THIS WORKS.

>> LAST QUESTION HERE, THE CLINICAL STUDY IS AT WHAT STAGE NOW AND WHAT'S NEXT?

WHAT TIME FRAME WE GOT GOING?

>> VERY PROUD OF THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT HONORHEALTH.

WE HAVE A VARIETY OF CLINICAL TRIALS, THIS IS ONE OF THE TRIALS READY FOR ENROLLMENT SO WE ARE ACTIVELY SCREENING AND RECRUITING PATIENTS FOR ENROLLMENT.

IF A PATIENT MEETS THE APPROPRIATE CRITERIA WHICH INCLUDES YOU NEED TO BE ON MEDICATION FOR BLOOD PRESSURE AND BLOOD PRESSURE IS TOO HIGH, CAN BE ENROLLED IN THE TRIAL, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THE FOLKS OUT THERE.

TED: HOW CAN PEOPLE GET MORE INFORMATION ON THIS?

>> CONTACT THE HONORHEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE OR ANYONE IN THE ELECTRO PHYSIOLOGY SECTION OF HONORHEALTH IN THE CARDIOVASCULAR CENTER OF EXCELLENCE.

TED: WHEN DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT GET SERIOUS DATA OUT OF THIS?

>> DEPENDS HOW QUICKLY YOU ENROLL.

I PREDICT WE'LL HAVE PRELIMINARY RESULTS AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR AND SEE LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP.

TED: DR. DOSHI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, GREAT INFORMATION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S A PLEASURE.

TED: YOU BET.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.