The Access Project - Assessment Of Coronary Artery Disease Using CT Effectively For Stable Symptoms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$754,369.00
Summary
Invasive Coronary Angiography (ICA) provides x-ray visualisation of coronary disease (CAD) that is essential for coronary surgery/balloon angioplasty. However many patients undergo this procedure without requiring these therapies despite the associated severe complications. The ACCESS Project screens patients scheduled for ICA, identifying those unlikely to have CAD and referring them for non-invasive CT angiography. This strategy reduces procedure complications and result in major cost savings.
Exploiting Existing Data Sources To Improve The Prevention And Treatment Of Cardiovascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,490.00
Summary
My program of research exploits several large databases to answer important issues in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which makes a huge contribution to the burden of illness and premature mortality in Australia. An underlying aim is to provide the evidence base to facilitate improvement of the existing CVD risk assessment guidelines in Australia, for better targeting of clinical advice and treatment.
Advancing The Epidemiology Of Coronary Heart Disease: Reliable Monitoring, Secondary Prevention And Future Projections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
Coronary heart disease imposes a significant health care burden in Australia, and there have been major changes to the way in which this disease is diagnosed and treated. This project will develop a new method for accurate monitoring of the burden of coronary heart disease nationally, will assess the effectiveness of current drug treatments for people with coronary heart disease and estimate future rates of coronary heart disease in the whole population.
TEXTMEDS – TEXT Messages To Improve MEDication Adherence And Secondary Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,406,875.00
Summary
TEXTMEDS will evaluate a highly innovative strategy to improve cardiovascular disease secondary prevention using cheap and widely available mobile phone technology. TEXTMEDS is a randomised controlled trial of 1400 patients with acute coronary syndrome that will examine the effect of a semi-personalised secondary prevention support program sent via mobile phone text message on the proportion taking appropriate medications for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and on cardiovascul ....TEXTMEDS will evaluate a highly innovative strategy to improve cardiovascular disease secondary prevention using cheap and widely available mobile phone technology. TEXTMEDS is a randomised controlled trial of 1400 patients with acute coronary syndrome that will examine the effect of a semi-personalised secondary prevention support program sent via mobile phone text message on the proportion taking appropriate medications for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and on cardiovascular risk factors levels (e.g. cholesterol).Read moreRead less
The aim of this project is to investigate the burden which is caused by diabetes in people with coronary heart disease, and to determine whether the risk associated with diabetes has increased in recent years. This project will measure the magnitude of this problem, to assist with decision-making about allocation of health resources. The findings will also allow doctors to identify the risk of future acute cardiovascular events such as a heart attack which are associated with having diabetes.
LoDoCo2 Low Dose Colchicine For Secondary Prevention In Stable Coronary Heart Disease (the LoDoCo2 Trial)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,399,884.00
Summary
We are conducting clinical trial in several thousand patients to assess the effect of a common, inexpensive and readily available anti-inflammatory drug, colchicine, on heart attack. Colchicine is widely used for treating gout, which is due to inflammation in joints. Since inflammation is an important process makes a cholesterol plaque unstable and can lead to coronary thrombosis and heart attack, we are hypothesising that cholesterol can limit this process.
Use Of Novel Imaging Techniques For The Diagnosis Of Coronary Artery Disease And Myocardial Ischaemia: Implications For The Assessment Of Patients With Chest Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$113,322.00
Summary
Coronary artery disease (narrowing of heart arteries) is the leading cause of death in Australia, and a serious cause of chest pain. This project is designed to determine the accuracy, safety and long-term outcomes of patients with chest pain investigated with the novel technique of computed tomography (CT) of the heart muscle and arteries, including an investigational technique of CT stress testing by injection of a pharmacological agent, which may be more accurate and safe than current tests.
Identifying The Site/s Of Modification On The Human L-type Ca2+ Channel Protein Isoforms During Oxidative Stress With Reference To Development Of A Therapeutic Target
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,369.00
Summary
A rise in calcium and free radicals in the heart are associated with the development of heart disease. We have good evidence that a protein in the heart muscle known as the L-type calcium channel mediates changes in calcium in response to free radicals. This proposal will identify how the channel function is altered by free radicals so that a therapeutic target can be designed to prevent altered channel function and development of heart disease during increases in free radicals.
Is The Incidence Of Heart Attack Still Decreasing In Australia? Developing More Reliable Methods For Monitoring Trends In Myocardial Infarction And Coronary Heart Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$762,021.00
Summary
Our study is a collaboration between the University of WA and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to investigate population trends in incidence and outcomes of heart disease and its major sub-groups including heart attack, angina and chest pain. Using linked data from WA, we will identify the sub-groups for which trends over time are a realistic estimate of the true population trends. These will be applied to national data to monitor heart disease more accurately in Australia.
Do Retinal Microvascular Signs Predict Ischaemic Heart Disease Subtype? The Australian Heart Eye Study (AHES)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$65,532.00
Summary
Narrowing of the large vessels of the heart and abnormal function of the small vessels are both causes of coronary heart disease and chest pain.There are few non-invasive investigations to help differentiate between large and small vessel disease and assess one’s risk of developing disease in the future.The study uses retinal photography and coronary angiography to assess whether changes in the structure of the blood vessels of the eye may be used to identify the type of coronary heart disease a ....Narrowing of the large vessels of the heart and abnormal function of the small vessels are both causes of coronary heart disease and chest pain.There are few non-invasive investigations to help differentiate between large and small vessel disease and assess one’s risk of developing disease in the future.The study uses retinal photography and coronary angiography to assess whether changes in the structure of the blood vessels of the eye may be used to identify the type of coronary heart disease as well as the risk of future cardiac events.Read moreRead less