Cardiac, Respiratory and Vascular Health
Healthy heart, lungs, arteries and veins are vital to overall good health. Despite being largely preventable, cardiovascular disease is one of Australia’s leading health problems, affecting one in six people and accounting for nearly 30% of deaths.
Our researchers conduct interdisciplinary research to understand the mechanisms which underlie the development of coronary heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, and vascular and heart rhythm disorders. Utilising the skills of physicians, bioengineers, research scientists and computational modellers, research is focused on translating biomedical discoveries to clinical practice.
Furthermore, researchers undertake clinical trials and epidemiological studies into cardiovascular disorders with the objective of improving health outcomes for patients.
Researchers across the faculty are focused on:
- understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cardiac and vascular disorders including peripheral arterial disease, atherosclerosis and cardiac arrhythmias
- exploring the relationship between atrial fibrillation, blood clotting and stroke
- developing improved cardiovascular imaging and disease detection methods
- understanding the relationship between high density lipoproteins (HDL) and cardiovascular risk
- developing strategies to modify cardiovascular risk through the control of obesity and obesity-related conditions
- applying evidence-based medicine, recommendations and guidelines to target education and improve health outcomes for at risk cardiac patients
- developing new approaches to treat airway inflammation in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- developing cell and gene therapy approaches for diseases affecting lung blood vessels (pulmonary hypertension) and lung transplant.
Our research centres and institutes working in this area
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (Professor Prashanthan Sanders)
- Centre of Research Excellence in Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health (Professor Michael Horowitz)
- Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing (Professor Gary Wittert)
- North West Adelaide Health Study (Professor Robert Adams and Professor Anne Taylor)
- Robinson Research Institute (Professor Sarah Robertson)
- Wardliparingga Aboriginal Research Unit (Professor Alex Brown)
Our research groups working in this area
- Adelaide Exposure Science and Health (Professor Dino Pisaniello)
- Australian Dysautonomia and Arrhythmia Research Collaborative (ADARC) (Professor Dennis Lau)
- Diabetes Research Group (Professor Jennifer Couper)
- MAILES Longitudinal Male Ageing Study Research Group (Professor Gary Wittert)
- Postprandial Hypotension Group (Professor Karen Jones)
- Primary Care and Health Services Research Group (Professor Nigel Stocks)
- Psychosis Research Group (Professor Cherrie Galletly)
- Translational Vascular Function Research Collaborative (Professor John Beltrame)
- Vascular Research Centre (Associate Professor Peter Psaltis)
Lead researchers
For additional leads in this area of research, please contact Cardiac, Respiratory and Vascular Health researchers.
Interested in a postgraduate research degree?
We offer exciting opportunities for researchers at the honours, masters and PhD levels. Our research degrees are open to students from a broad range of backgrounds, and range from basic sciences to clinical research. If you are interested in human health, consider furthering your research career with us.