Research Wish List

The Heart Research Institute is in need of funding support across a wide variety of areas, including research projects, equipment and fellowships.

Examples of our funding needs are listed below, although these are subject to change. If you wish to donate, please contact us to confirm their availability at the time of your donation.

Our Wish List

FUNDING NEED 1: MS4e Coulter counter - $68,000

A Coulter counter allows us to measure cell volume. Change in cell volume is an important factor in many biological processes including cell growth and death, which we routinely look at in cardiovascular research.

By gifting this item, you will help: Vascular Complications, Applied Materials

FUNDING NEED 2: Clariostar plate reader - $55,000

We use plate readers to detect biological, chemical and physical changes in our lab samples. The “plate” contains multiple wells (like mini test tubes) for samples, and the readers are widely used across all our research groups. The model we hope to buy is more sensitive and flexible than our current one.

By gifting this item, you will help: Vascular Complications, Applied Materials, High Blood Pressure

FUNDING NEED 3: Water filtration system - $8,500

This water filtration system will be fitted in our Tissue Culture Laboratory. Filtrated water is important as it reduces the risk of impurities which may cause our experiments to fail or give inaccurate results.

By gifting this item, you will help: Vascular Complications, Applied Materials, High Blood Pressure

FUNDING NEED 4: Haematology analyser - $23,510

A haematology analyser allows us to analyse blood and measure blood cell parameters in our labs, the same way as your blood is analysed if you have a blood test at the doctor. This item automatically loads samples before analysing them, which would save our researchers hours of manual tasks, leaving more time to dedicate to vital research.

By gifting this item, you will help: Thrombosis, Vascular Complications

FUNDING NEED 5: Microscope upgrade: polarised light source - $2,200

This light source will allow us to visualise different levels of collagen deposition in the thickening and scarring of connective tissue – vital for research into atherosclerosis.

By gifting this item, you will help: Applied Materials, Vascular Complications

FUNDING NEED 6: Microscope upgrade: blue-violet laser - $33,990

This upgrade will allow for super-resolution on our microscope imagery. This will allow us to view the smallest parts of a cell, such as receptors on the cell membrane, in better detail, and therefore understand better the roles they play in cardiovascular disease.

By gifting this item you will help: Thrombosis, Cardiometabolic Disease, Cardiac Imaging, Cardiovascular Medical Devices

FUNDING NEED 7: Zetasizer Nano Z - $170,000

This is an optical system for characterising nanoparticles and measuring the electrical charge on the surface of particles.

By gifting this item, you will help: Applied Materials

FUNDING NEED 8: Centrifuge for nanoparticles - $14,000

Centrifuges are vital equipment for separating out particles from a mixture by rotating it rapidly. Our current centrifuge spins at 10,200rpm, but this one can spin at 18,000 rpm, making it perfect for working with nanoparticles!

By gifting this item, you will help: Applied Materials

FUNDING NEED 9: SmartClear II Pro system - $38,500

This system is to “clear” tissue so that we can produce deeper, more detailed images, and therefore better analysis. This system clears tissue faster than we can currently and doesn’t contaminate or deform our samples in any way.

By gifting this item, you will help: Thrombosis

FUNDING NEED 10: Laser Doppler blood flow monitor - moorVMS-LDF - ~$22,000

Stroke is one of Australia’s biggest killers and a leading cause of disability. This devastating disease is caused by the blockage of blood vessels that supply the brain, leading to brain damage. Therapies for stroke require restoration of blood flow to the brain, which can be achieved using a laser Doppler blood flow monitor, which monitors the changes in blood flow throughout the brain tissue. This unit will allow the testing of potential new therapies for stroke by assessing their impact on restoring blood flow in stroke models.

By gifting this item, you will help: Thrombosis

Research Wish List

The Heart Research Institute is in need of funding support across a wide variety of areas, including research projects, equipment and fellowships.

Our Wish List

FUNDING NEED 1: MS4e Coulter counter - $68,000

FUNDING NEED 2: Clariostar plate reader - $55,000

FUNDING NEED 3: Water filtration system - $8,500

FUNDING NEED 4: Haematology analyser - $23,510

FUNDING NEED 5: Microscope upgrade: polarised light source - $2,200

FUNDING NEED 6: Microscope upgrade: blue-violet laser - $33,990

FUNDING NEED 7: Zetasizer Nano Z - $170,000

FUNDING NEED 8: Centrifuge for nanoparticles - $14,000

FUNDING NEED 9: SmartClear II Pro system - $38,500

FUNDING NEED 10: Laser Doppler blood flow monitor - moorVMS-LDF - ~$22,000

For more information on our Wish List, please email support@hri.org.au

For more information on our Wish List, please email s upport@hri.org.au