Sadly, one Australian dies from heart disease every 12 minutes.
This is a scary statistic, particularly when many of the risk factors associated with heart disease are preventable.
Together with our Group charity Australian Heart Research, we are progressing lifesaving research into the prevention, early detection and new treatments of cardiovascular disease to better manage and beat our biggest killer.
Professor John Beltrame answers your questions about heart disease
Heart Disease Support
Progressing the development of 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.
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.
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.Â
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
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.
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 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.
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.
Funding numerous projects and clinical trials to improve care and treatments for people with Atrial Fibrillation, including testing new drugs, addressing lifestyle and sleep triggers, and providing inter-disciplinary care.
Researchers
Professor Prash Sanders and Dr Jeroen Hendriks run a clinic at the Royal Adelaide Hospital to personalise treatment for Atrial Fibrillation.
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.
Investigating whether a cancer therapy drug can be repurposed to prevent heart disease caused by Type 2 diabetes.
Researcher
Honours student Emily Kovacev is testing whether blocking a protein called PARP-1, which is over-activated in Type 1 and 2 diabetes, can help improve cell survival and prevent heart disease.
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.
