These are just some of the breakthroughs you have made possible.
Your support has helped scientists from HRI develop a world-first alternative to heart transplants, using “mini-hearts” and a bioprinter. The lab-created tissue forms a patch, like a band aid, to replace or repair damaged areas of the heart. Lead researcher Dr Carmine Gentile says it is hoped that once the breakthrough is successfully tested in clinical trials, it will save the lives of the thousands of Australians waiting for a heart transplant. The breakthrough has the potential too to save millions of lives globally.
Your support has helped fund a three-year world-first study that confirmed a natural chemical found in broccoli can reduce the formation of harmful blood clots that can in some instances lead to stroke, as well as improve the performance of clot-busting drugs afterwards. Stroke is one of the five leading causes of death in Australia, claiming 23 lives every day. “We are very excited at having isolated a natural compound that may have huge beneficial effects,” said lead researcher Dr Xuyu (Johnny) Liu.
“I support research because, without it, I would not be here today.” – Elle, who was born with complex congenital heart disease.
Every day, eight babies are born with congenital heart disease (CHD) in Australia. Some are born with just half a heart – and if they survive, they suffer complex health problems and lead a life of uncertainty about their future. Your support helped us launch our world-first exercise trial for CHD patients, led by Assoc Prof Rachael Cordina and Dr Derek Tran. The study is already seeing positive results, with participants reporting increased energy, reduced anxiety and an improved quality of life.
Despite the huge impact cardiovascular disease has on everyday lives, we still do not understand why it develops and progresses differently depending on the person. You, and people like you, have helped us to purchase a high-tech mass spectrometer system and launch our cutting-edge Fluxomics Centre, the first in Australia devoted to cardiovascular disease and at the very heart of our vision of personalised medicine. “Thanks to you, we will be able to design better treatments because we will have deeper knowledge of how and why cardiovascular disease develops, and how and why medicines do and don’t work,” says head of the Fluxomics Centre Dr Sergey Tumanov.
You are critical to the fight against cardiovascular disease.
The generosity of people like you provides over 70 per cent of the funding for our life-saving science.
The only thing that can help eliminate the needless suffering of millions of Australian hearts is medical research – and people like you.
Thank you for changing lives.
You are making it possible for families to spend precious moments together.
When Scarlett was 13, she had two cardiac arrests and went into end-stage heart failure. Her only hope? An urgent heart transplant. Her parents were terrified. “I would do anything to give Scarlett, and children like her, a longer life expectancy and the best chance of a normal life,” said mum Amanda.
Your support and generosity is bringing hope to thousands of people like Scarlett living with heart disease.