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Embracing a future of possibility The Heart Research Institute 2014 Annual Review 2 04 Looking Back – 25 Years of the Heart Research Institute 05 Looking Forward – The Journey to 2020… and Beyond 06 The HRI in 2014 08 Collaboration and Critical Mass 10 Chairman’s Report 12 Director of Cardiovascular Research Report 14 2014 Research Highlights 16 Scientific Director Report 18 Cell Therapeutics Group 20 Clinical Research Group 22 Free Radical Group 24 High Blood Pressure Group 26 Immunobiology Group 28 Inflammation Group 30 Translational Research and Bioengineering Group 32 Vascular Complications Group 34 Vascular Immunology Group 36 New HRI Groups in 2015 – Cardiac Imaging Group 37 New HRI Groups in 2015 – Thrombosis Group 38 Marcus Blackmore International Fellowships 42 Postgraduate Student Program 44 Our Work Travels Far and Wide 46 Activities of Senior Research Staff 50 Conference Presentations 54 Publications 60 Scientific Staff of The Institute 62 Board of Governors 66 HRI International Trustees 67 Members of the Institute 68 Operations Report HRI scientists Joy Michael and Dr Stacy Robertson 70 General Manager of Marketing and Strategy Report 74 Fundraising Report 3 LOOKING BACK – 25 YEARS OF THE HEART RESEARCH INSTITUTE Today, The Heart Research Institute (HRI) is a world-renowned medical research institute with our work estimated to have saved many hundreds of thousands of lives. From our state-of-the- art Eliza Street, Newtown facility we now have over 152 personnel who are dedicated to finding solutions to Australia’s (and the world’s) number one killer – cardiovascular disease. But let us take this opportunity to remember our AMP went further in their support when they offered to origins and the people and organisations who helped make a philanthropic donation of $5 million, so long as make this all possible. it was matched by $5 million from the NSW Government and $5 million from the Federal Government. This In 1986, The Heart Foundation called a tender to helped the Royal Prince Alfred tender stand out from a establish New South Wales’ first heart research scientific, academic and financial perspective. institute. Cardiologists at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital led by Phil Harris, David Kelly and David The HRI opened its doors in 1989 across the road Richmond decided to contest this tender. from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) and The University of Sydney (USyd), with Professor Roger Dean The inspiration for the HRI scientific model was the as our founding Scientific Director and Alan Coates as desire to create a medical research institute that would our first Chairperson. exist within the supportive environments of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University of Sydney, The three philosophies that guided the HRI’s allowing scientists to be inspired by the challenges approach to our scientific productivity were: encountered at the patient’s bedside, while also giving them access to the multidisciplinary capabilities of 1 Groups should have independent research programs. The University of Sydney. 2 The Institute should encourage collaborative research links between all groups. This medical research institute would focus on the understanding of the origins and mechanisms 3 The Institute will seek to create productive clinical of atherosclerosis – the leading cause of collaborations with doctors at the Royal Prince cardiovascular disease. Alfred Hospital. But the creation of the HRI wasn’t a purely scientific Twenty-five years on, this model of integrating medical effort. The tender was also supported by Ross research with the delivery of health services has become Hohnen (a leading University of Sydney administrator a mantra for how contemporary medical research and academic entrepreneur) and leading Sydney institutes are being encouraged to organise themselves businessman (and then Managing Director of AMP) for maximum translational impact and improved public Mr Alan Coates. health outcomes. 4 The Heart Research Institute/ Annual Review 2014 LOOKING FORWARD – THE JOURNEY TO 2020… AND BEYOND The HRI has embarked on a series of exciting collaborative ventures that will fundamentally change the way the organisation operates and performs in the years ahead. Several unique developments are occurring at ‘Sydney Health Partners’ Advanced Health The University of Sydney (USyd), the Sydney Local Research and Translation Centre Health District (SLHD) and at the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) that are Established to recognise and encourage leadership significantly enhancing the HRI’s capabilities, critical in innovative discovery research, research translational mass and operational model. These include the activities, the provision of health care and the training development of: of doctors, nurses and other health professionals in an evidence-based environment, at international levels 1 The Charles Perkins Centre of excellence. 2 Sydney Research Thanks to these exciting developments and our 3 ‘Sydney Health Partners’ Advanced Health enduring original vision to create a medical research Research and Translation Centre institute that is inspired by the challenges encountered at the patient’s bedside, the HRI is in a wonderful The Charles Perkins Centre position to become one of the leading cardiovascular Represents a $500 million investment by The University research organisation in Australia over the next 10 years. of Sydney to find innovative approaches to tackling some of Australia’s major healthcare challenges, namely cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. Sydney Research Aims to be one of Australia’s leading translational research entities that facilitates the functional integration and collaborative opportunities between leading researchers and clinicians across the Sydney Local Health District. 5 THE HRI IN 2014 WHO WE ARE LOCATION 7 Eliza Street, Newtown The Heart Research Institute (HRI) is an internationally recognised DIRECTOR OF CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH medical research institute Professor Shaun Jackson that performs cutting-edge (ACTING) SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR cardiovascular research from our state-of-the-art facility in Assoc Prof Clare Hawkins Newtown, Sydney, Australia. CHAIRMAN OUR VISION Dr Stephen Hollings PERSONNEL To improve global health through 156+ excellence in medical research. 11X SCIENTIFIC GROUPS OUR MISSION • Cardiac Imaging By understanding the • Cell Therapeutics causes and complications • Clinical Research of cardiovascular disease. • Free Radical • High Blood Pressure • Immunobiology OUR AMBITION • Inflammation To be the most influential • Translational Research cardiovascular institute in Australia. • Thrombosis • Vascular Complications • Vascular Immunology OUR PARTNERSHIPS • Royal Prince Alfred Hospital • The Charles Perkins Centre at The University of Sydney • The Sydney Local Health District and the ‘Sydney Research’ scientific precinct • ‘ Sydney Health Partners’ Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre. ABN 41 003 209 952 6 The Heart Research Institute/ Annual Review 2014 RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS IN OVER 20 COUNTRIES GRANT INCOME BY FUNDING BODY 2% 20% 61% 17% NHF ARC NHMRC Other 2.66 HRI RANKED 2ND IN AUSTRALIA FOR RELATIVE CITATION IMPACT IN THE NHMRC ‘MEASURING UP 2013’ STUDY CITATIONS BY YEAR 85 2014 1600 PUBLICATIONS 2013 1400 17 2012 900 ORAL PRESENTATIONS 2011 500 31 2010 100 POSTER PRESENTATIONS 7 COLLABORATION AND CRITICAL MASS Collaboration and critical mass are vital components of cutting-edge medical research in 2015. While the Heart Research Institute (HRI) has enjoyed longstanding collaborative partnerships with Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) and the University of Sydney (USYD) since our inception 25 years ago, several unique developments are occurring that will enable the HRI to gain even more capability and critical mass in the years ahead. Sydney Research ‘Sydney Health Partners’ In 2013 the Heart Research Institute became a Advanced Health Research and founding member of the Sydney Research cooperative Translation Centre alliance. Sydney Research was formed to harness and optimise biomedical sciences, clinical research, Sydney Health Partners is one of four Australian centres health systems and population health research within of research excellence recognised as a new ‘Advanced the Central Sydney area. Sydney Research aspires Health Research and Translation Centre’ by the National to be Australia’s leading translational research entity, Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC)... and is converting discoveries into better health for the people the first of its kind in NSW. of Central Sydney, Australia and around the world. This partnership comprises Sydney Local Health District, Key to this alliance is the partnership between Sydney Western Sydney Local Health District and the Sydney Local Health District and its principal tertiary referral Children’s Hospitals Network, Northern Sydney Local Health hospitals - Royal Prince Alfred and Concord Hospitals, District, the University of Sydney and affiliated medical the University of Sydney and 11 eminent medical research institutes (including the Heart Research Institute). research institutes, affiliates and centres of excellence. Other Sydney Research ‘Hub’ members include: Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre seeks ANZAC Research Institute, The Asbestos Disease to recognise and inspire leadership in innovative discovery Research Institute, The Baird Institute, Centenary research, research translational activities, the provision of Institute, Centre