We are committed to research that is translational in nature, which means that discoveries made in the lab are converted as quickly as possible into therapies that help people living with heart disease.
View the projects we are funding thanks to the support of our donors and fundraisers below:
Heart Disease Research
Developing the world’s smallest 3D-printed imaging catheter to identify people at high risk of a heart attack before they experience any life-threatening symptoms.
Researcher
Dr Jiawen Li and cardiologists from the Royal Adelaide Hospital are working together to develop the micro-catheter to enable the high-quality imaging of narrow arteries.
Investigating whether zinc supplements can help people living with chest pain from Angina with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries, otherwise known as ANOCA.
Researchers
Dr Tharshy Pasupathy and Associate Professor Rosanna Tavella are hoping their research helps people living with ANOCA, who endure the symptoms of chest pain, a heavy weight on their chest, shortness of breath and exhaustion.
Creating an affordable and nationally-scalable dashboard that enables real-time monitoring of patient data, giving doctors insights about what has happened between visits that can inform a change of plan or medication
Researcher
Associate Professor Johan Verjans is creating the real-time dashboard from data from the Medicare Benefit Scheme (MBS) to pick up on tests the patient has had, and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to record the patient’s medications.
Investigating whether an injectable medicine called semaglutide can stop plaque growth and prevent heart attacks from reoccurring.
Researcher
Associate Professor Peter Psaltis says semaglutide is used in diabetes to lower blood sugar levels.
Improving the discharge process and preventing readmissions for patients after a heart attack.
Researcher
Dr Clementine Labrosciano hopes to produce a model to help identify patients at high risk of readmission after a heart attack.
Delivering a cardiac rehabilitation program for women in remote areas to improve recovery from heart disease.
Researchers
Dr Alline Beleigoli and Professor Robyn Clark from Flinders University are leading this project, to co-design an online care pathway to better cater for women’s unique heart health needs.
Investigating why some people present with ‘unexplained heart attacks’ known as myocardial infarction with non-obstructed coronary arteries (MINOCA) and examining possible mechanisms and treatments.
Researcher
Cardiologist Professor John Beltrame AM is world-renowned for his research into this puzzling condition.
Establishing a cardiovascular biobank, which stores blood samples and other tissues long-term, to allow researchers to analyse and determine which biomarkers are responsible for particular heart disease.
Researcher
Cardiologist Associate Professor Margaret Arstall says the biobank is increasing the quality of research into cardiovascular health and will help identify new, effective diagnoses and treatment methods.
Analysing the care patients with pacemakers receive when they present to a hospital emergency department to help improve future care and treatment decisions.
Researcher
PhD student Bradley Pitman is passionate about improving the follow-up care of patients with pacemakers and other heart rhythm devices.
Identifying which patients are at risk of an emergency tear in the aorta during surgery, to then personalise their treatment and determine whether an invasive or non-invasive method is recommended to repair the damage.
Researcher
Dr Timothy Surman’s research will optimise aortic surgery in a way that influences every patient’s quality of life for the better.
Analysing over 14,000 angiogram procedures to discover that the procedure works best when the catheter tube is inserted into an arm artery rather than the traditional artery in the groin.
Researcher
Dr Rosanna Tavella is helping to improve the performance of angiograms (a test to detect abnormal blood vessels and blockages).
Offering a unique follow-up clinic for women at Lyell McEwin Hospital who had a complication during pregnancy, who are now at higher risk of developing premature heart disease before the age of 55.
Researcher
Emily Aldridge helps run the service for women who have experienced serious complications, like high blood pressure and diabetes, during pregnancy.
Atrial Fibrillation Research
Undertaking a clinical trial of a drug which shows promise in preventing Atrial Fibrillation by addressing its three common risk factors: high blood pressure, excess weight and diabetes.
Researcher
Associate Professor Christopher Wong is hoping the drug can treat the cause of Atrial Fibrillation, enabling the focus to be on prevention rather than managing symptoms or complications once they arise.
Evaluating whether a personalised exercise program for Atrial Fibrillation patients following a catheter ablation, will improve their health outcomes.
Researcher
Dr Adrian Elliott is hoping his research fills the knowledge gap relating to exercise rehabilitation following catheter ablation and whether it can reduce arrhythmia recurrence and improve patient outcomes.
Investigating whether an aggressive approach to weight and lifestyle management can decrease Atrial Fibrillation (AD) symptoms and reduce hospitalisations.
Researcher
Cardiologist Dr Dennis Lau aims to treat obesity and other risk factors to reduce AF symptoms and potentially save lives.
Running a specialised and multi-disciplinary clinic at the Royal Adelaide Hospital that has an integrated care (i-CARE) approach for managing people’s Atrial Fibrillation, ensuring strong collaboration between specialists, nurses and allied professionals.
Researchers
Professor Prash Sanders and Dr Jeroen Hendriks run the innovative iCARE clinic to improve treatment for Atrial Fibrillation.
Undertaking overnight sleep studies and analysing other sleep data to determine whether the electrophysiological changes experienced by people with sleep apnoea contributes to Atrial Fibrillation (AF).
Researcher
With obstructive sleep apnoea four times more common among patients with AF than those without, Associate Professor Dominik Linz hopes that treating sleep apnoea might also prevent AF!
Investigating whether subclinical Atrial Fibrillation is associated with risks of dementia and whether the screening guidelines for Atrial Fibrillation need to be adapted.
Researcher
Cardiologist Dr Rajiv Mahajan says that AF causes small blood clots that travel to the brain, sometimes causing silent strokes that patients are not aware of, increasing the risk of dementia.
