Full listing of the Heart Foundation Grant Recipients announced in 2021, commencing research projects in 2022.
For any enquiries, please contact the Research Program team at [email protected]
| Institution | Awardee | Project Title | Project length | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menzies School of Health Research | Mrs Vicki Wade | Beyond the Scars: The social and emotional wellbeing of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with rheumatic heart disease | Three Years | NT |
| The University of Newcastle | Dr Michelle Bovill | Which Way? Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women to be smoke-free through group-based cessation support. | Three Years | NSW |
| Institution | Awardee | Project Title | Project length | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Adelaide | Dr Li Jiawen |
Ultrathin 3D micro-printed cellular-resolution intravascular imaging catheter to enable accurate detection of critical features of high-risk atherosclerotic plaques in patients (Honorary Future Leader Fellowship) |
Four Years | SA |
| University of New South Wales | Dr Michael Falster | Using big data to inform post-hospital treatment decisions with cardiovascular medicines: variation, adherence and outcomes of care | Four Years | NSW |
| University of Sydney | Associate Professor Steven Wise | Bioengineering New Synthetic Conduits for Arterial Revascularisation | Four Years | NSW |
| Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute | Associate Professor Anna Calkin | Utilising Systems Genomics to Identify Novel Regulators of Cardiometabolic Disease | Four Years | VIC |
| University of Tasmania | Dr Rachel Climie |
New strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease by identifying disease risk in early life (Honorary Future Leader Fellowship) |
Four Years | TAS |
| Monash University | Associate Professor Francine Marques |
Targeting the gut microbiota to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease (Honorary Future Leader Fellowship) |
Four Years | VIC |
| Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health | Dr Yugeesh Lankadeva | Developing novel mechanism-guided interventions to prevent brain and kidney injury arising after cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass and during sepsis | Four Years | VIC |
| Monash University | Dr Ziad Nehme | Every minute counts: a strategy to strengthen the links in the Chain of Survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest | Four Years | VIC |
| The University of Newcastle | Dr Rebecca Wyse |
Adopting Digital Health Interventions at scale to increase their impact on Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) dietary risk factors at a population-level (Honorary Future Leader Fellowship) |
Four Years | NSW |
| Monash University | Associate Professor Monique Kilkenny | National Stroke Data Linkage Program: Using big data to improve diagnostic coding, clinical management and long-term outcomes after stroke | Four Years | VIC |
| Monash University | Associate Professor Dion Stub | Integration of Pre-hospital and Hospital based clinical registries to investigate novel therapeutics and systems of care in cardiac emergencies | Four Years | VIC |
| University of Sydney | Dr Lining Ju | Platelet mechanobiology inspired anti-thrombotic strategies and point-of-care biomedical engineering | Four Years | NSW |
| Deakin University | Professor Kylie Hesketh | Early childhood physical activity and sedentary behaviour interventions to optimise heart health trajectories | Four Years | VIC |
| University of New South Wales | Dr Ryan Courtney | Reducing the social gradient in smoking cessation: New and innovative approaches to increase quitting and improve cardiovascular health outcomes | Four Years | NSW |
| The University of Newcastle | Associate Professor Aaron Sverdlov | Improving cardiovascular health for people living with and beyond cancer | Four Years | NSW |
| The University of Queensland | Dr Sonia Shah | Using genomic data to improve the understanding, prevention and management of cardiovascular disease | Four Years | QLD |
| Institution | Awardee | Project Title | Project length | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New South Wales | Dr Lucy McGrath-Cadell | Understanding the genetics and mechanisms of spontaneous coronary artery dissection | Up to Three Years | NSW |
| Monash University | Dr Elisabeth Ng | Primary aldosteronism: new strategies for diagnosis and management | Up to Three Years | VIC |
| Monash University | Dr Sean Tan | Cardiovascular Screening in Cancer Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors | Up to Three Years | VIC |
| Flinders University | Dr Kathryn Tiver | The Effect of Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibition on Electrophysiologic and Clinical Parameters of Atrial Fibrillation | Up to Three Years | SA |
| Murdoch Children's Research Institute | Dr Yara-Natalie Abo | Rising to the challenge of rheumatic heart disease: human trials to accelerate Strep A vaccine development | Up to Three Years | VIC |
| Murdoch Children's Research Institute | Dr Michael Zhu | Long-term Outcomes of Surgery for Diseases of the Aortic Valve in Children | Up to Three Years | VIC |
| University of Melbourne | Dr Varun Sharma | Multimodal Spectroscopy as a point-of-care instrument in Cardiac Surgery | Up to Three Years | VIC |
| University of New South Wales | Dr Yashutosh Joshi | Exploring the role of potential cardioprotective agents (heparin, tirofiban, SGLT2 inhibitors & ASIC1a inhibitors) in improving donor heart preservation for heart transplantation | Up to Three Years | NSW |
| University of Western Australia | Dr Umar Ali | Metabolic phenotyping of plasma and urine to detect subclinical coronary atherosclerosis | Up to Three Years | WA |
| University of Sydney | Dr Prajith Jeyaprakash | Restoring microvascular circulation with diagnostic ultrasound and contrast agent: the REDUCE Trial: A randomised, double blinded, sham controlled, multicentre trial at three high volume primary percutaneous coronary intervention centres | Up to Three Years | NSW |
| Institution | Awardee | Project Title | Project length | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Melbourne | Dr Fana Alemseged | Improving outcomes of stroke patients with basilar artery occlusion | Two Years | VIC |
| University of New South Wales | Dr Sonali Gnanenthiran | Drug repurposing in cardiovascular disease: strategies to improve outcomes and accelerate drug translation. | Two Years | NSW |
| Monash University | Dr Adam Nelson | The Do statins favourably modify atherosclerotIc plaque in patients with different levels of polygenic Cardiovascular rIsk? (DA VINCI) trial | Two Years | VIC |
| Monash University | Dr Hashrul Rashid | Longitudinal impact of CT-defined leaflet thrombosis on valvular haemodynamics and clinical outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement | Two Years | VIC |
| University of Sydney | Dr Mark Dennis | Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for Cardiac Failure and Cardiac arrest - patient selection, outcomes and appropriate resource usage | Two Years | NSW |
| University of Melbourne | Dr Anoop Koshy | Enhancing Cardiovascular Risk Prediction in Patients undergoing Liver Transplantation: Role of an Impaired Cardiac Reserve (ENVISION-LT Study) | Two Years | VIC |
| University of Western Australia | Dr Abdul Rahman Ihdayhid | Patient-Specific CT-Derived Modelling of Blood Flow to Predict Coronary Obstruction for Aortic Valve in Valve Implantation: PRECISION Study | Two Years | WA |
| The University of Queensland | Dr Jaimon Kelly | A mixed methods study to evaluate the trust and confidence in digital health and codesign solutions to prevent cardiovascular disease in people with chronic kidney disease | Two Years | QLD |
| Monash University | Dr Kathryn Eastwood | Developing strategies to reduce unplanned emergency services presentation in the 90-days following discharge for acute coronary syndrome by understanding the reasons and associated factors. | Two Years | VIC |
| Institution | Awardee | Project Title | Project length | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute | Dr Yow Keat Tham | Targeting heart-enriched lipid species, plasmalogens: a new oral-based treatment strategy for the failing heart | One Year | VIC |
| Deakin University | Dr Lewan Parker | Antioxidant deficiency screening and personalised antioxidant prescription as an accessible and cost-effective treatment for cardiovascular dysfunction and insulin resistance | Up to Two Years | VIC |
| University of Sydney | Dr John O'Sullivan | Replenishing Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide to Rescue Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction | Up to Two Years | NSW |
| Curtin University | Professor Andrew Maiorana | Developing and testing a novel deep learning model to improve access to accurate echocardiography | Up to Two Years | WA |
| University of New South Wales | Associate Professor Shane Thomas | Biodegradable Nanoparticles as a Novel Clinically Viable Therapeutic Approach for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease | Up to Two Years | NSW |
| University of Melbourne | Professor Leanne Delbridge | Developing a blood test for early detection of diabetic heart disease | Up to Two Years | VIC |
| Macquarie University | Dr Mitchell Sarkies | Developing an implementation strategy for enhancing the detection and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia in Australia | One Year | NSW |
| The University of Newcastle | Professor Jenny Bowman | Evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of PhysiCards: a pilot randomised controlled trial of a novel tool to assist mental health consumers identify and seek care for cardiovascular (and other) physical health concerns | One Year | NSW |
| University of Melbourne | Professor Louise Burrell | Plasma ACE2 activity levels and cardiac outcomes following severe SARS Co-V2 infection | One Year | VIC |
| Central Queensland University | Professor Corneel Vandelanotte | Applying machine learning to develop a smart and engaging chatbot to increase physical activity and improve health | Up to Two Years | QLD |
| University of Western Australia | Dr Gina Trapp | Limiting the impact of energy drinks on children's heart health: a prospective, matched controlled-trial to test the feasibility of a mandatory ban on the sale of energy drinks to children | Up to Two Years | WA |
| The University of Newcastle | Professor Tracy Burrows | Evaluating the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a cardiovascular disease prevention intervention targeting addictive and compulsive overeating among adults with a mental illness: CardioFix | One Year | NSW |
| University of Sydney | Associate Professor Steven Wise | Engineering “arteries in a box” from patient-derived cells to unravel novel mechanisms and treatment strategies for coronary artery disease | Up to Two Years | NSW |
| Monash University | Associate Professor Flora Wong | Predictive monitoring for early detection of cardiac dysfunction in preterm babies, using heart rate variability and deep learning | Up to Two Years | VIC |
| The University of Newcastle | Dr Tatt Jhong Haw | Investigating the cardiopulmonary impacts of prolonged exposure to bushfire smoke particulate matter and other environmental hazards in Regional Australia | One Year | NSW |
| University of New South Wales | Dr Damia Mawad | The next generation of cardiac pacemakers: leadless and flexible organic optoelectronics for optical pacing of the heart | Up to Two Years | NSW |
| University of Melbourne | Professor Karlheinz Peter | The enemy within: defining the role of T cells in atherosclerotic autoimmunity, plaque instability and rupture | Up to Two Years | VIC |
| University of Melbourne | Dr Laura Bienvenu | Immunomodulatory Therapy for Preserving Cardiac Function Following Myocardial Infarction | Up to Two Years | VIC |
| Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health | Dr Yugeesh Lankadeva | Elucidating the optimal dosing regimen of intravenous Vitamin C for improving circulatory management and reversing brain and kidney injury in septic shock | Up to Two Years | VIC |
| Monash University | Associate Professor Dion Stub | Pre-hospital point-of-care troponin and paramedic risk assessment in patients with chest pain without ST-elevation: A cluster randomized controlled trial | Up to Two Years | VIC |
| Monash University | Professor Karen Smith | Randomised controlled trial of the Artificial Intelligence in carDiac arrEst (AIDE) decision support tool for improved identification of cardiac arrest in the Triple Zero (000) call | Up to Two Years | VIC |
| The University of Newcastle | Professor Philip Morgan | Cultural adaptation and feasibility trial of ‘Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids’ for Indigenous Australian families to improve cardiovascular health | Up to Two Years | NSW |
| University of Sydney | Associate Professor Natasha Rogers | Investigating a new pathway driving cardiorenal syndrome. | Up to Two Years | NSW |
| University of Sydney | Professor Gemma Figtree | A new paradigm to tackle redox-mediated cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction | Up to Two Years | NSW |
| University of Melbourne | Dr Kate Weeks | Modulating cardiac protein phosphatase activity as a new strategy for heart failure | One Year | VIC |
| Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute | Associate Professor Anna Calkin | Validation of a Novel Regulator of Lipid Metabolism | One Year | VIC |
| University of New South Wales | Dr Ying Wang | Improving cardiovascular outcomes in acute kidney injury | Up to Two Years | NSW |
| University of Sydney | Professor Kazuaki Negishi | Restoring microvascular circulation with diagnostic ultrasound and contrast agent: the REDUCE Trial: A multicentre pilot study at three high volume primary percutaneous coronary intervention centres | Up to Two Years | NSW |
| Monash University | Dr Tomasz Block | NOX5 in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells as a new biomarker for unstable diabetic cardiovascular disease | One Year | VIC |
| University of Western Australia | Professor Carl Schultz | Prevention of Aortic Stenosis progression Phylloquinone Ossification Reduction Trial (PASSPORT) | Up to Two Years | WA |
| Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute | Professor Julie McMullen | Identifying new strategies to treat and prevent atrial fibrillation by understanding differences between physiological and pathological atrial enlargement | Up to Two Years | VIC |
| Institution | Awardee | Project Title | Project length | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Newcastle | Dr Alice Grady | Improving the health of pre-schoolers: childcare-based obesity prevention interventions at scale | Up to Six Months | NSW |
| University of Tasmania | Dr Rachel Climie | Vascular ageing across the life course | Up to Six Months | TAS |
| Monash University | Dr Hashrul Rashid | Advanced Structural Heart Clinical and Research Fellowship at Guy's & St Thomas Hospital | Up to Six Months | VIC |
| University of Sydney | Dr Jessica Orchard | Cardiac screening of athletes: building a national registry of screening electrocardiograms | Up to Six Months | NSW |
| Deakin University | Dr Laura Alston | Advancing nutrition data collection and CVD prevention research in rural Australia | Up to Six Months | VIC |
| University of South Australia | Dr Dorothea Dumuid | What influences the activity trade-offs people make during important life transitions? | Up to Six Months | SA |
| Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute | Dr Kate Weeks | Emerging drug targets for heart failure | Up to Six Months | VIC |
| Griffith University | Associate Professor Hang Ta | Conference participation: Smart nanomedicine for diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases | Up to Six Months | QLD |
The following researchers have been awarded an innovation award for submitting the top innovative projects.
Shirley E Freeman Innovation Award
Shirley E Freeman AM (1924 - 2014) was the first female to receive funding from the Heat Foundation in 1960. Her funding was £1250 for a grant-in-aid that commenced 1961.
This award recognises the most innovative successful Postdoctoral Fellowship application. The recipient receives an additional $20,000 on top of the Fellowship.
Dr Adam Nelson, Monash University
The Heart Foundation Excellence Award, generously sponsored by Rebecca Davies AO FAICD, offers additional funding to recognise and reward the highest ranked 2021 Heart Foundation PhD Scholar.
Dr Yara-Natalie Abo, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Ross Hohnen Innovation Award
In memory of Ross Hohnen AM, OBE who passed away in 2003, the Heart Foundation awards the “Ross Hohnen Award recognising Research Excellence” to encourage innovation in cardiovascular research.
This award recognises the most outstanding and innovative Vanguard Grant application. The recipient receives an additional $10,000 on top of the Grant.
Professor Corneel Vandelanotte, Central Queensland University
Paul Korner Innovation Award
In memory of Professor Paul Korner, who passed away in 2012, this award is in appreciation of the positive impact his work had on many lives.
This award recognises the most innovative successful Future Leader Fellowship applications. The recipients receive an additional $20,000 on top of the Fellowship.
Dr Li Jiawen, University of Adelaide
Dr Yugeesh Lankadeva, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
Last updated22 January 2024