Cardiac amyloidosis: a treatable heart condition

Associate Professor Nicole Bart, University of New South Wales

Future Leader Fellowship - Level 1

Years funded: 2025 - 2029

Cardiac amyloidosis is a condition in which misfolded fibrils deposit themselves in the heart causing heart failure. Only five years ago no treatments were available, and patients had a life expectancy ~ 4 years. Today, unlike many other causes of heart failure, amyloidosis is treatable if diagnosed early. In addition, through genetic testing, at-risk family members can be screened and diagnosed before developing any signs of disease.

This project will help understand how prevalent amyloidosis is, how it manifests clinically, and the different genes involved. It will also help understand the outcomes associated with the condition and help streamline patients towards lifesaving medicines. It will do this by using multimodal imaging combined with genetics to deeply characterise the disease. All parameters will be entered into a state-wide database. If successful, this database would become the largest and most comprehensive worldwide. As the leader of a multidisciplinary research team in this space, I am well placed to build, design, and lead the project. This potentially will identify patients before they have devastating heart failure and offer them lifesaving treatments.