2018 Heart Research Institute Annual Review Accelerating Research Tomorrow’s cure Tomorrow’s Today’s research Today’s 2018 Heart Research Institute Annual Review Hello Future Accelerating 2018 Heart Research Institute Annual Review Research ACCELERATING Discoveries into therapies Knowledge into prevention Breakthroughs into cures Students into leaders Collaborations into partnerships 4 2018 Heart Research Institute Annual Review Inspiring Leaders 2018 Heart Research Institute Annual Review CONTENTS 06 HRI in 2018 08 Chairman’s Report 2018 10 Director of Cardiovascular Research Report 12 2018 Research and Media Highlights 16 Applied Materials Group 18 Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodelling Group 20 Cardiac Imaging Group 22 Cardiometabolic Disease Group 24 Cardiovascular Medical Devices Group 26 Cell Therapeutics Group 28 Clinical Research Group 30 Haematology Research Group 32 Heart Rhythm and Stroke Prevention Group 34 High Blood Pressure Group 36 Thrombosis Group 38 Vascular Complications Group 40 Vascular Immunology Group 42 Inflammation and Fibrosis Research 44 PhD Students 45 Select Prizes and Awards 46 Select Conferences and Presentations 50 Select Publications 56 Board of Governors 59 International Board of Governors 60 Members of the Institute 62 Fundraising Report 66 Operations Report 6 2018 Heart Research Institute Annual Review The mission of the Heart Research Institute (HRI) is to prevent death and suffering from cardiovascular disease through an understanding of the biological processes that cause atherosclerosis and thrombosis, the major underlying causes of most heart attacks and strokes. 20 18 SHORT TERM LONG TERM The major short-term focus of our research There are four long-term objectives is to understand the development and for our research: progression of atherothrombotic conditions • To investigate mechanisms in which the arteries are narrowed and contributing to the pathogenesis restricted due to a build-up of fatty of cardiovascular disease. deposits. • To develop new ways to detect symptoms of cardiovascular disease This is being achieved via scientific and before it leads to clinical problems. clinical research work conducted by the • To develop new treatments that can scientific groups that make up the HRI, reverse the development of heart from basic biomedical discovery work, disease. drug discovery and development, and • To prevent individuals developing devices and device improvement, to cardiovascular disease in the future. clinical trials and clinical initiatives. HRI in 2018 Locations 60+ COLLABORATIONS ACROSS 25 COUNTRIES • 7 Eliza Street, Newtown • Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney Chairman Professor Len Kritharides Director of Cardiovascular Research Professor Shaun Jackson Chief Executive Officer Dr Stephen Hollings Deputy Director Research Strategy Professor Ben Freedman Acting Scientific Director Emeritus Professor Carolyn Geczy Clinical Director Professor David Celermajer 2018 GRANT INCOME 2018 CITATIONS BY FUNDING BODY Associate Directors of Research Management and Education Dr Mary Kavurma (Eliza St) 172 Assoc Professor Simone Schoenwaelder (Charles Perkins Centre) 13 Scientific Groups $1,361,973 $25,488 • Applied Materials (5.35%) (0.10%) 2018 PERSONNEL • Atherosclerosis and Vascular National Health Australian Remodelling and Medical Research • Cardiac Imaging Research Council Council (ARC) 250+ • Cardiometabolic Disease (NHMRC) • Cardiovascular Medical Devices • Cell Therapeutics • Clinical Research • Haematology Research • Heart Rhythm and Stroke Prevention 2018 HRI INCOME • High Blood Pressure • Thrombosis $75,000 $1,024,443 • Vascular Complications (0.29%) (4.03%) • Vascular Immunology National Heart NSW Government Foundation (NHF) (MRSP) Our Partnerships • Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney • Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Health Partners - Royal Prince Alfred Hospital - Sydney Research $2,083,654 $15,000 $20,854,773 Australian Business Number (8.19%) (0.06%) 41 003 209 952 Other Commercial (81.98%) funding TOTAL: $25,440,331 Donations 8 2018 Heart Research Institute Annual Review Chairman’s Report 2018 PROFESSOR LEN KRITHARIDES CROSSING DIVIDES AND prevention, the better application of Clinical research provides relevance, BUILDING BRIDGES established therapies and the identification defining clinical problems and establishing Heart attacks and strokes remain the of new treatments. Community awareness the efficacy and impact of treatments. The commonest cause of mortality and of cardiovascular disease as a contemporary combination of the two, moving from bench morbidity in the Australian population, and cause of premature death and disability to bedside and from bedside to bench, is very in developing countries they are increasing is remarkably low – making our ability to powerful. It is for this reason that since its at an alarming rate. The incidence is deliver optimal prevention and treatment inception, the HRI has always crossed the fuelled by our ageing population and the to the community challenging. divide between basic science and clinical increasing prevalence of diabetes and research, closely linked at its foundation obesity. Combating heart disease and stroke Laboratory science provides mechanistic with the Department of Cardiology at – commonly referred to as cardiovascular understanding – how and why things happen RPAH. Current clinician scientists at the disease – requires increased efforts in – in the great engine room of discovery. HRI include cardiologists (Professors Chairman’s Report 2018 David Celermajer and Ben Freedman, and New Zealand, industry, and NSW Dr Lining (Arnold) Ju an ATVB Career Associate Professor Sanjay Patel and Health. The diversity of external funding Development Award, Dr Steve Wise was Dr John O’Sullivan), renal and obstetric sources reflects the diverse portfolio of awarded the Marshall and Warren Award physician Professor Annemarie Hennessy, research undertaken by HRI scientists – for Most Innovative Project Grant by the haematologist Dr Freda Passam, radiologist from bench to bedside. The contribution NHMRC, and Professor Shaun Jackson Professor Stuart Grieve, and our Director of NSW Health in directly supporting received the CVRN 2018 Ministerial Award of Cardiovascular Research Professor cardiovascular research is especially for Cardiovascular Research Excellence, Shaun Jackson. The ability to cross-appoint notable. It reflects a major change in the presented by The Honourable Brad Hazzard clinicians to RPAH and to the HRI is critical research landscape in NSW, providing MP, NSW Minister for Health and Minister to the ongoing success of the HRI, and career and project support for aspiring for Medical Research. has been strongly supported by the Chief scientists and clinician-scientists, and is The ability of our scientists to undertake Executive of the Sydney Local Health proving critical for the sustainability of such excellent work requires outstanding District, Dr Teresa Anderson. cardiovascular research in NSW. infrastructure and administrative support. The HRI crosses another divide – the divide The partnership with the NSW Government The scientific leadership of the HRI, led by between biological science and chemical was most emphatically demonstrated with Professors Shaun Jackson, Carolyn Geczy discovery. NHMRC-funded collaborative the announcement in 2018 of the NSW and Ben Freedman, the management team research between Professor Shaun Cardiovascular Research Capacity Building of the HRI led by our CEO Dr Stephen Jackson and Professor Richard Payne Grants Program worth $150 million over Hollings, our fundraising team led by from the Department of Chemistry at The 10 years. This major commitment by the Richard Wylie, our human resources lead University of Sydney is discovering new Berejiklian Government, a first for Australia, Elissa Dwyer, and our committed Board chemicals to inhibit the formation of blood represented the culmination of another of Governors and International Trustees/ clots, which may have implications for the collaboration – between the HRI, the Victor Directors deserve our enduring gratitude treatment of critical events such as stroke. Chang Cardiac Research Institute and the and sincere thanks. Such research requires internationally NSW Cardiovascular Research Network This report began by referring to crossing competitive expertise on both fronts – (CVRN) of the Heart Foundation. This peer- divides and building bridges, and I hope biology and chemistry – and an environment reviewed funding pool will be open to all I have given an indication of the importance that encourages collaboration. cardiovascular researchers in NSW, and of partnerships in achieving great science. represents a major increase in the total I would like to finish by acknowledging what is for the HRI its most enduring “ Our scientific achievements are fundamentally partnership – the partnership with you, its members and donors. Our scientific also the achievements of our supporters, and it is achievements are fundamentally also important that we can share the achievements of the achievements of our supporters, and it is important that we can share the our scientists with you.” achievements of our scientists with you. The HRI has always been strongly supported by the enormous goodwill of Other leading scientists at the HRI whose pool of funds available for urgently needed the general community, and that support work straddles biology and bioengineering, cardiovascular research in NSW. The