The HRI Centre for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) — the first of its kind in NSW — was established to lead PAD research in Australia and to address critical gaps in our understanding of PAD pathophysiology, treatment, and patient care.

PAD is a cardiovascular condition caused by narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood from the heart to distant tissues. Although reduced blood flow can affect multiple organs, PAD most commonly involves the lower limbs, particularly the legs and feet.

The need

PAD has substantial and growing impacts on the health and wellbeing of Australians, contributing to escalating healthcare costs associated with its diagnosis and treatment. Globally, more than 230 million people are living with PAD.

Currently more than 230 million people around the world suffer from PAD.

The condition is a powerful predictor of serious illness and premature death, increasing the risk of stroke, heart attack, and limb tissue damage that can ultimately result in amputation. As Australia’s population ages, the prevalence of PAD is expected to rise. Importantly, PAD does not affect all Australians equally—First Nations peoples face a threefold higher risk of developing the disease, and women often experience poorer outcomes following treatment.

In Australia, more than $875 million is spent each year managing PAD, a figure that is projected to increase due to ageing demographics and ongoing risk factors.

Our Impact

The Centre for PAD represents a major step forward in driving dedicated research, collaboration, and advocacy for this often-overlooked cardiovascular disease. By creating a platform that unites researchers, clinicians, consumers and industry partners, we are strengthening efforts to improve diagnostics, treatment strategies, and patient outcomes.

Our mission is to understand, prevent, and treat PAD.

Our team brings together researchers, clinicians, and educators to explore all aspects of PAD - from how it develops at a cell and molecular level, to improving treatments, diagnostics and patient care, as well as increasing awareness.

Our ultimate goal is to save limbs and lives.

Our team

Chair and Discovery Lead – Assoc Prof Mary Kavurma
Clinical Lead – Assoc Prof Sarah Aitken
Clinical Lead – Dr David Robinson
Science Strategy – Prof Mathew Vadas
Science Strategy – Prof Andrew Coats

Collaborators

Sydney Local Health District (Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Concord Hospital)
The University of Sydney
Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
Centenary Institute
University of New South Wales
University of Technology Sydney

Centre Activities: PAD Colloquium

Supported by NSW Health, the Centre hosted the inaugural PAD Colloquium August 2024, bringing together >100 members of the national PAD community for the first time. The event showcased patient experiences, research into novel therapies, and discussions on gaps in knowledge, fostering national collaboration and laying the foundation for future partnerships. Seeing the enthusiasm and commitment from colleagues across Australia reaffirmed the urgent need to prioritise PAD and accelerate progress in this space.

Centre Activities: Consumer Group Meetings

To increase awareness and involve consumers in our research projects, we regularly hold consumer group meetings. The last meeting was held Oct 2025, with a focus on diabetes-associated PAD.

Quote from Mary Kavurma “As people living with PAD, diabetes-associated PAD or supporting someone who is, your experiences help guide our research to ensure it addresses real-world needs and priorities. Your input will shape the questions we ask, the therapies we develop, and ultimately the outcomes we aim to improve”.

We look forward to seeing you at future events - and we warmly invite you to get involved in our ongoing activities, including research participation, community awareness initiatives, and fundraising campaigns that support our mission to improve outcomes for people living with PAD.

Have your say

People living with PAD are at the heart of our work, and we invite you to join our important mission.

Be part of the HRI Centre for PAD community, become an ambassador and get involved in events, seminars, advocacy and clinical trials.
Help our researchers understand patient challenges and lived experience of PAD.
See the research we do and value add to make a real difference to your community.

Contact us at CentreForPAD@hri.org.au for more information

Centre clinical studies

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Join the journey towards better health. Download the flyer.

Media

Kavurma: "We desperately need a gender lense in heart research and care. Associate professor Mary Kavurma is leading the way", Women's Agenda, April 2024

Kavurma: “New Centre for PAD”, ABC news breakfast, June 2024

Kavurma: “Unmasking a silent killer: new Centre for peripheral artery disease”, Channel 9 news, July 2024

Cartland: “Cardiovascular medical breakthrough”, 7 news Dubbo

Cartland: soundbites, 2GB and 2SM; syndicated on 20 radio stations, Oct 2024

Cartland: “Cancer drug offers new hope for peripheral artery disease”, New Daily, Nov 2024

Kavurma: "Mysterious leg pain that's quietly killing older Australians", Readers Digest, Nov 2024

Kavurma: “Exciting new discovery that could hold the key to stopping PAD”, 2GB Healthy Living, Dec 2024

Selected publications

SEC61B regulates calcium flux and platelet hyperreactivity in diabetes.
Kong YX, Rehan R, Moreno CL, Madsen S, Zhang Y, Zhao H, Qi M, Houlahan CB, Cartland SP, Robertshaw D, Trang V, Ong FJL, Liu M, Cheng E, Alwis I, Dupuy A, Cielesh M, Cooke KC, Potter M, Stöckli J, Morahan G, Kalev-Zylinska ML, Rondina MT, Schulman S, Yang JYH, Neely GG, Schoenwaelder SM, Jackson SP, James DE, Kavurma MM, Hocking SL, Twigg SM, Weaver JC, Larance M, Passam FH.J Clin Invest. 2025 Aug 15;135(16):e184597. doi: 10.1172/JCI184597. eCollection 2025 Aug 15.PMID: 40829182

METTL14 promotes intimal hyperplasia through m6A-mediated control of vascular smooth muscle dedifferentiation genes.
Chensee G, Lee BS, Green ID, Tieng J, Song R, Pinello N, Lee Q, Mehravar M, Robinson DA, Wang M, Kavurma MM, Yu J, Wong JJ, Liu R.JCI Insight. 2025 Apr 17;10(10):e184444. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.184444. eCollection 2025 May 22.PMID: 40266881

Unmet Needs and Opportunities for Australian Innovation and Clinical Research to Improve Quality of Life and Outcomes in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease.
Parmenter BJ, Kavurma MM, Richards T, Arnott C, Aitken SJ, Wise SG, Gray MP, Golledge J, Askew CD, Smith S, Hure A, Figtree GA; Australian Cardiovascular Alliance National Peripheral Artery Disease Working Group.Heart Lung Circ. 2025 Mar;34(3):225-234. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2024.12.007. Epub 2025 Feb 6.PMID: 39919990

The generation of stable microvessels in ischemia is mediated by endothelial cell derived TRAIL.
Cartland SP, Patil MS, Kelland E, Le N, Boccanfuso L, Stanley CP, Cholan PM, Dona MI, Patrick R, McGrath J, Su QP, Alwis I, Ganss R, Powell JE, Harvey RP, Pinto AR, Griffith TS, Loa J, Aitken SJ, Robinson DA, Patel S, Kavurma MM.Sci Adv. 2024 Oct 4;10(40):eadn8760. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adn8760. Epub 2024 Oct 4.PMID: 39365855

Sex, Endothelial Cell Functions, and Peripheral Artery Disease.
Cartland SP, Stanley CP, Bursill C, Passam F, Figtree GA, Patel S, Loa J, Golledge J, Robinson DA, Aitken SJ, Kavurma MM.Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Dec 13;24(24):17439. doi: 10.3390/ijms242417439.PMID: 38139267

The Prognostic, Diagnostic, and Therapeutic Potential of TRAIL Signalling in Cardiovascular Diseases.
Kelland E, Patil MS, Patel S, Cartland SP, Kavurma MM.Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Apr 4;24(7):6725. doi: 10.3390/ijms24076725.PMID: 37047698

A hidden problem: peripheral artery disease in women.
Kavurma MM, Boccanfuso L, Cutmore C, Passam F, Patel S, Hennessy A, Loa J, Figtree GA, Golledge J, Robinson DA, Aitken S.Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes. 2023 Jun 21;9(4):342-350. doi: 10.1093/ehjqcco/qcad011.PMID: 36882190

Endothelial cell dysfunction: Implications for the pathogenesis of peripheral artery disease.
Kavurma MM, Bursill C, Stanley CP, Passam F, Cartland SP, Patel S, Loa J, Figtree GA, Golledge J, Aitken S, Robinson DA.Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022 Nov 16;9:1054576. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1054576. eCollection 2022.PMID: 36465438

Book chapters

Aitken S, Kavurma M. (2024) Sex and Gender in Peripheral Artery Disease, chapter in Sex and Gender Aspects of the Cardiovascular System in Health and Disease: A Life Course Approach, American Physiology Society and National Institute of Health. Springer Book Chapter

Kavurma M and Gamble J. (2024) Vascular Endothelium in Health and Disease for “Mechanisms of Vascular Disease: A textbook for Vascular Specialists. 4th edition. Springer Nature Book Chapter

Grants

Drug Discovery Initiative, the University of Sydney
“Novel biomarkers for atherosclerosis from peripheral vessels”
2025-2028
NHMRC Ideas Grant
“On the TRAIL of peripheral artery disease”
2024-2027
NHMRC Ideas Grant
“Endothelial cell-pericyte crosstalk: novel interactions for generating stable and functional blood vessels in ischaemia”
2020-2025
ACvA/BioPlatforms Australia Research Catalyst Award
“Single cell transcriptome profiling of diabetic peripheral artery disease”
2024

Current Research Projects

Discovery:

Sex differences in peripheral artery diseases (PAD)
Understanding mitochondrial endothelial function and how its dysfunction impacts vascular disease
Uncovering variations in atherosclerosis across different vascular beds

Clinical: