Professor Gemma Figtree with Dr Steve Vernon
Our researchers secure highly competitive national funding Two of our leading researchers will drive key Australian projects following a funding announcement from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). of coronary artery disease - the most common form of heart disease which can lead to heart attacks. measure the effectiveness of this new test using genetic markers to predict heart health,” she said.
“If it proves effective, we anticipate the new early warning test will directly inform clinical guidelines and government policy. “It will help us identify those at risk of coronary artery disease so they can receive preventative treatment, similar to that received by those with the traditional risk factors. “We anticipate this approach will reduce heart attacks and prevent deaths.
She said our current assessment is based on the well-documented risk factors of smoking, hypertension, diabetes and high blood cholesterol. However, between 15 and 30 per cent of people who experience a heart attack don’t have these traditional risk factors, so a new early detection test, called a polygenic risk score has been developed. “As part of our research, we will be providing some robust data to
More than $1.4 million from the partnership grant program will go to Kolling researcher and RNSH interventional cardiologist Professor Gemma Figtree and her team for a study to reduce coronary artery disease. The world-first project will receive an additional $2 million from industry and health partners. Professor Figtree and her team will assess a new way to identify the risk
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KOLLINGNEWS | MAY 2021
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