Dr Thomas Meredith

Improving therapeutic decision making in aortic valve stenosis

Dr Thomas Meredith, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Limited

2022 PhD Scholarship

Years funded: 2023-2025

Aortic stenosis is the most common heart valve disease. It is characterised by a complex interplay between the aortic valve and the heart muscle (ventricular) function, making diagnosis and treatment timing challenging. Although replacement of the aortic valve has improved the prognosis of this condition, the current recommendations for the timing of replacement are associated with a highly advanced disease state and oftentimes sub-clinical heart muscle dysfunction, which is not only likely irreversible, but also portends a worse prognosis. It is possible that there may be a significant advantage to aortic valve intervention prior to the end-stage disease state which currently forms the basis for guideline recommendations. In the proposed doctoral research, we aim to better predict the response to therapy in aortic stenosis and identify factors associated with a favourable response to aortic valve intervention, such that we can help individualise treatment for patients and improve survival.