Q&A with Associate Professor Dion Stub

Dr Stub and his team are on the cusp of discoveries that have the potential to save thousands of lives in Australia each year.

What area of research do you work in?

My research focus is on heart emergencies, like cardiac arrest. My team and I are looking at how we treat a patient when their heart stops beating and how we can do a better job of getting more people through that trauma.

What progress and discoveries have you made?

In the past, some cardiac arrest patients were considered too weak to survive resuscitation. It was believed that some hearts were incapable of being restarted. We have demonstrated that it is now possible to save someone who was previously thought ‘too far gone’ – thanks to a new process that combines mechanical CPR with the use of a miniaturised heart lung machine called ECMO.

How important was funding from the Heart Foundation for your work?

Absolutely crucial. As someone who practices both clinical medicine as well as clinical studies, I simply wouldn’t have had dedicated time to do research. Heart Foundation funding also allowed me to take my idea away from the workbench and translate it into clinical medicine. The better equipped we are at treating heart emergencies, the more likely it is that patients will survive and go on to enjoy long and happy lives.

Do you have a message for Heart Foundation supporters?

Thank you for helping to fund Heart Foundation research, and please continue to give. It’s only with the ongoing support of donors that we can continue to strive for the best possible outcomes for all Australians affected by cardiac arrest.