Optimising the emergency response and management of acute cardiovascular events

Professor Janet Bray, Monash University

Future Leader Fellowship - Level 3

Years funded: 2025 - 2029

Improving emergency care for acute cardiovascular events

Acute cardiovascular events (ACE), including stroke, heart attacks, and cardiac arrest, impact one-in-five Australians and are major causes of disability and death. Emergency treatments can significantly reduce heart and brain damage, but their effectiveness is time-sensitive. Many patients either do not receive these treatments or receive them too late, often due to not recognising the emergency and acting promptly. Improving public response and timely delivery of these treatments is a crucial healthcare priority. National collaboration is also needed to optimise the delivery and evidence base for prehospital ACE treatments.

A national plan to address gaps in cardiovascular response

Building on my impactful Future Leader Fellowship (L2) research, this four-year plan addresses critical cardiovascular health gaps identified by my team. The program includes multiple studies across two research streams, using diverse methodologies such as multi-centre randomised trials, population-based registry and observational studies, data linkage, mixed methods, and systematic/scoping reviews. Grounded in my clinical career as a critical care nurse and previous ambulance service employment, this research aims to produce practical, translatable outcomes to enhance emergency cardiovascular care.

Key Objectives and Outputs:

1) National Strategy Implementation: Develop and implement a national strategy to address disparities in public recognition and response to acute cardiovascular events.

2) National Collaboration: Foster and enhance collaborations between Australian and New Zealand ambulance services to improve the delivery of prehospital ACE treatments and establish a robust evidence base.

3) International Leadership in Evidence Synthesis: Position Australia at the forefront of international evidence synthesis to inform cardiac arrest treatment guidelines and identify existing evidence gaps.

With my strong foundation and networks, I am well-equipped to lead this research program and contribute to significant advancements in cardiovascular emergency care. This body of research fills internationally and nationally recognised gaps and aligns with the Heart Foundation's Strategic and Operational Plans, including Vision 2050.