Preventative cardiology

We are dedicated to reducing the number of patients who develop cardiovascular disease, as well as easing the suffering of those with cardiovascular disease. We aim to do this through using our combined skills and synergies in the areas of cardiovascular clinical care, public health, physical activity, health literacy, nutrition and computing technology to identify and test innovative solutions in preventive cardiology.

Healthy behaviours including reducing risk factors, adhering to medication and monitoring cardiovascular risk reduces the likelihood of subsequent cardiac events, yet access to and uptake of effective interventions are alarmingly low. 

To meet the needs of an increasingly diverse patient population and recognise the impact and potential of technology, we aim to enable projects that specifically address common and prevalent issues in prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Our research will identify and promote patient-centred multidisciplinary solutions and account for acceptance and accommodation of diversity in health literacy, cognition, culture and language, as well as behaviour change principles, use of mobile health technologies, health professional development and education.

Key grants

As a result of collaboration with CPC researchers (Gallagher and Bauman) pilot work and publications a successful NHRMC Synergy grant on secondary prevention 

• Redfern J Briffa T Gallagher R Jennings G Bauman A Wood D Ratcliffe J Brieger D O’Neill A Solving the long-standing evidence-practice gap associated with cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (SOLVE-CHD) NHMRC Synergy 2020 $5M 2020-5 [more]

COVID related cardiac position statements

• Optimising secondary prevention and cardiac rehabilitation for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Position Statement by the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. Heart Lung Circ 2020 epub April 30 [more]
• CSANZ COVID-19 Cardiovascular nursing care consensus statement. Heart Lung Circ 2020 [more]

Research Training

• Completion of PhDs (6) MD (2) MPhil (1) BHons (3) Summer Scholars (4)
• Fortnightly journal club
• 55 peer-reviewed student publications and 1 book chapter
• Student work on activity trackers featured on ABC Health Report
• 4 PhD students invited speakers at International Conferences including European Society of Cardiology, World Congress of Cardiology, World Paediatric Cardiology Congress
• Current students: PhD (6), MPhil (1) BN Hons (2)

• Professor Adrian Bauman
• Dr Carissa Bonner
• Associate Professor Melody Ding
• Professor Robyn Gallagher (Project Node Leader)
• Dr Nicole Lowres
• Professor Kirsten McCaffery
• Professor Sharon Naismith
• Dr Lis Neubeck
• Professor Manos Stamatakis