VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC 2010 RESEARCH INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT HEART FACTS CONTENTS • • • • • • MARY AIKENHEAD MINISTRIES 02 Our Institute 03 A Message from the Mary Aikenhead Ministries 04 2010 Chairman’s Report 07 2010 Executive Directors Report 08 Scientific Advisory Board 10 Board of Directors ST. Vincent’s HEALTH AUSTRALIA LTD VICTOR CHANG CARDIAC — RESEARCH INSTITUTE BOARD 12 VCCRI Honourees CHAIRMAN 14 Highlights 2010 MR. STEVEN LOWY, AM CHAIRMAN, FINANCE COMMITTEE — MR. JOHN KEAN 19 Publications CHAIRMAN, APPEAL COMMITTEE 22 Awards and Achievements VCCRI MRS. LOUISE DI FRANCESCO 23 Symposia and Lecture Series ORGANISATIONAL — 25 Financials STRUCTURE 26 VCCRI Health Check Booth UNIVERSITY OF NSW VICE CHANCELLOR: 28 Research Divisions VCCRI SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD PROFESSOR FRED HILMER, AO 30 School Science Awards 32 Fundraising EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 35 Bequests PROFESSOR ROBERT GRAHAM, AO VCCRI RESEARCH DIVISIONS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER The relief of pain and suffering and ADMINISTRATION the promotion of well-being, through CORE FACILITIES an understanding of the fundamental ESSENTIAL SERVICES mechanisms of cardiovascular biology in health and disease. VCCRI ANNUAL REPORT 2010 01. OUR INSTITUTE A MESSAGE FROM THE MARY AIKENHEAD MINISTRIES • • • • • • With donated funds, St. Vincent’s Hospital established the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, which was launched on February 14, 1994. The Trustees of Mary Richard Harpham Foreword Aikenhead Ministries Chairman, Trustees of — Mary Aikenhead Ministries would like to congratulate On 1 July 2009, Mary both Steven Lowy and Bob Aikenhead Ministries Graham on the continued was established by the success of the Institute. Congregation of the Religious The contribution it continues Sisters of Charity of Australia, to make to the health and to assume the governance research communities is role previously held by the extraordinary. The Trustees Congregation in relation are very grateful that people to various health and aged of great commitment and care, research, education ability (both Directors and and welfare ministries, staff) have contributed so including the Victor Chang much to ensure that the Cardiac Research Institute. Institute continues to excel, DEVELOpmENTAL BIOLOGY 07 notwithstanding the many The name Mary Aikenhead challenges it faces. MOLECULAR CARDIOLOGY & Ministries is both a tribute BIOPHYSICS 06 to, and reminder of, the On behalf of the Trustees of MOLECULAR GENETICS extraordinary work and Mary Aikenhead Ministries, ministry of Mary Aikenhead, I am pleased to commend to the Foundress of the Sisters you the 2010 Annual Report STRUCTURAL & 05 COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY of Charity, who dedicated her of Victor Chang Cardiac life to service of the poor. Research Institute. ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE 04 Richard Harpham Chairman, Trustees of RECEPTION, STORES, 03 LOADING DOCK & Mary Aikenhead Ministries CRYOGENICS BIOCORE FACILITY & AQUARIUM 01 02. VCCRI ANNUAL REPORT 2010 VCCRI ANNUAL REPORT 2010 03. 2010 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT • • • It’s an enormous challenge In addition to excellence in Our efforts to meet this but one this Institute was research the Institute also challenge are ably led by the inspired to undertake by the fulfils an important role in board’s Appeals Committee, man whose name it bears – raising awareness of heart now chaired by new board the renowned heart surgeon disease. In 2010 we launched member, Louise Di Francesco, Victor Chang. 2011 marks the the Victor Chang Health who took over from John 20th anniversary of Victor’s Check Booth. The booth is McGuigan who served in passing and I think it’s fair designed to encourage people this role for many years. to say that his ambition to have their blood pressure, One of the major fundraising to establish a centre for cholesterol and blood sugar events each year is our excellence in this field is levels tested to increase their Steven Lowy awareness of cardiovascular traditional ‘Heart-to-Heart Chairman being more than honoured Ball’ and last year we were through the work that is risk factors. The booth has been trialled at a number of honoured that the Prime — carried out every day in the venues in and around Sydney. Minister, Julia Gillard, made new building which is now This is just one example of a special effort to attend. Each year this report provides home to the Institute. me with an opportunity to how we are continually taking put the many activities of the The case to do more and our message to the wider Institute into some context – more research into heart community. She spoke about the to explain, at a high level, what chose the VCCRI to be their article ‘Could it Happen to You’ disease is a compelling one Of course, to undertake our we do, why we do it, and what lasting impact Victor charity partner in a promotion in the SMH Good Weekend for two reasons. The first is research and community have been the results. that it is an enormous problem Chang has had on the launching their new car. magazine. The journalism programs the Institute faces - cardiovascular disease (CVD) awards are an initiative of the an ongoing challenge to lives of many Australians It’s also an opportunity is Australia’s biggest killer, The Commonwealth Bank Marketing and Communication carefully manage its budget and her presence also to recognise the outstanding resulting in more than 50,000 generously agreed to print our Committee formed during the and undertake a range of contribution so many people deaths each year. provided an opportunity message about the warning year and led by board member make to help us achieve fundraising activities. to raise some important signs of heart attacks, and Ms Jill Margo. those results. The second is that we can what to do until help arrives, This challenge is made all the prove that the sort of research issues, like the on the back of their envelopes On Mothers’ Day last harder by a self-perpetuating So let me begin with the big being done by this Institute fundraising challenge during 2010. year we urged Australian problem inherent in the current picture. is going a long way in women to recognise the system of funding for medical I just mentioned. overcoming the problem. Another successful event was early warning signs for heart The Victor Chang Institute is research institutes like the Victor this year’s Crabfest charity attack by having their risk a research institute. We exist Yes, the problem is enormous. Chang. Fundamentally, there is In 2010 the Institute welcomed lunch organised by VCCRI factors checked regularly. to do the hard, grinding work But answers are being found. an ever-widening gap between a generous new supporter - Ambassador Cameron Irving This campaign has a special of better understanding the Priceline. Priceline donated a Fewer people are dying. the federal grants received for and his committee, and significance for the VCCRI causes of heart disease and to research and the limited funding proportion of the sale price of the Victor Chang Award for as our friend and colleague, bridge the gap between that available for indirect costs that every bottle of Nature’s Own Excellence in Cardiovascular finance manager Monica and Blackmore’s Fish Oil to understanding and a clinical are necessary to undertake that Journalism that was launched O’Loughlin died suddenly heart disease research. Our application that will make a More people are living research. When we receive a at the VCCRI ball in 2010. Today of a heart attack. A 51-year- partnership with Priceline will material difference for patients. longer lives, happier lives much-needed grant to pursue Tonight Perth reporter Mark old mother of five, Monica continue in 2011 when they Gibson received the Award for delayed seeing a doctor about I want to emphasise the thanks to the kind of an important research project, launch their new ‘Sisterhood’ Excellence in Cardiovascular her condition despite having hard work aspect of the we then have to generate new initiative that will focus on the work that happens here. Journalism for his story about some classic symptoms of Institute because it is the income to fund the essential heart health of women. items to actually carry it out – Perth radio announcer Ian a coronary artery disease. It reality. Big breakthroughs In Australia the death rate for is hoped that 2011 will see are rare. When they do not just scientific equipment We also thank KIA for Blackley who suffered a heart all major types of CVD has and administrative and legal attack during his live radio show. the start of a yearly lunch come, they are usually the fallen by 80% since the 1960s including the VCCRI in their expenses, but also mundane Ambassador’s Program. Each Fred Witsenhuysen received the to honour Monica, called result of literally years of toil – an advance due directly to ‘Women and Heart Disease’, but equally essential services of their Ambassadors is given regional award for his article that by dedicated researchers– advances in medical research. which aims to further raise like lighting and telephones. the use of a KIA for at least one appeared in the Sunshine Coast like building a massive In 2010, advances like these awareness that cardiovascular year and, in our case, we have Daily on his own experience building brick by brick. achieved by the Victor Chang disease affects not just men been able to use it to transport with bypass surgery, and Ms Institute were reported in but women too. Four times leading international journals our Health Check Booth from Janet Hawley received an honourable mention for her more women die from heart such as Nature and Nature venue to venue. KIA also disease than breast cancer. Structural Biology. 04. VCCRI ANNUAL REPORT 2010 VCCRI ANNUAL REPORT 2010 05. 2010 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2010 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT • • • • • • I’d like to take this opportunity through the provision of services, On behalf of the board, towards nutrients.