In kind support
Supporting excellence in cardiovascular research
We are proud to acknowledge researchers who have successfully secured highly competitive funding through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). These achievements reflect the strength and excellence of Australia’s cardiovascular research community.
These projects span a diverse range of priority areas, including early detection and precision screening, stroke recovery, cardiac surgery, chronic disease prevention, rural health, workforce wellbeing and health equity. Together, they aim to improve outcomes across the prevention, diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease.
Explore grant awardees supported by the Heart Foundation
| Funder | Initiative | Researcher | Administering Institute | State | Research Category | Project Title | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRFF | Preventive and Public Health Research | Cher-Rin Chong | Adelaide University, formerly The University of Adelaide | South Australia | Diabetes & Heart Failure | Diabetes heart failure: focus on the coronary microvascular glycocalyx |
This project aims to determine the role of the glycocalyx, a tiny protective layer in blood vessels, to see if in diabetes, damage to it can signal early heart problems and whether repairing it could improve heart health. |
| MRFF | Preventive and Public Health Research | Simon Egerton | La Trobe University | Victoria | Rural and remote health | Assessing the Feasibility of a Proactive Heart Health Check Model in Rural Populations (opens in a new tab) |
This project aims to test the feasibility of a new Heart Health Check model (opens in a new tab), co-designed with rural communities. Using a Heart Health Check kit with portable devices, the project seeks to increase Heart Health Check uptake and enable early detection of cardiovascular disease risk factors in rural populations. |
| MRFF | Cardiovascular Health Mission | Yugeesh Lankadeva | University of Melbourne | Victoria | Cardiac Surgery | MEGA-dose sodium ascorbate to reduce brain and kidney injury arising from HEART surgery (MEGA-HEART) |
This project aims to improve recovery after cardiac surgery by using a novel vitamin C–based treatment to protect the brain and kidneys during procedures that use a heart-lung machine. It will also develop new blood tests to monitor brain injury and inflammation before, during, and after surgery in a simple, non-invasive way. Listen to the From the Heart podcast to hear more about this project: Episode 19 |
| MRFF | Genomics Health Futures Mission | Sonia Shah | University of Queensland | Queensland | South Asian health, health equity | The South Asian Genes and Health in Australia Study |
This project is building a long-term study of South Asian Australians to understand heart disease risk factor profiles in this group. The findings will help design prevention strategies that are better tailored to their cultural and health needs, improving equity and heart health outcomes. |
| NHMRC | Synergy | Luke Wolfenden | National Centre for Implementation | New South Wales | Chronic disease prevention | Using Learning Health Systems for Chronic Disease Prevention |
This project will facilitate “learning health systems” nationally, that uses data, research, and collaboration to rapidly improve how programs promoting healthy eating and physical activity are delivered in settings like schools, childcare, workplaces, and sporting clubs. |
| MRFF | Cardiovascular Health Mission | Connie Wong | Monash University | Victoria | Stroke recovery | IMAGINE: Integrative Multiomics Approach to Gain Insight into enhanced stroke recovery and survivorship |
This project aims to use advanced biological data to understand long-term stroke recovery and identify markers that can predict who may need different types of support. By linking these findings to recovery outcomes in a diverse group of Australians, it could help shape more precise rehabilitation, better use of health resources, and fairer access to the right care at the right time. |
| MRFF | Cardiovascular Health Mission | Karice Hyun | University of Sydney | New South Wales | Vaccinations, secondary CVD events | National trial of acute influenza vaccination to reduce recurrent cardiovascular events in Australia (AFLUENT) |
This study aims to integrate influenza vaccinations into in-hospital acute care for individuals admitted with acute myocardial infarction, as evidence suggests (opens in a new tab) this may help reduce the risk of secondary cardiovascular events. |
| NHMRC | Partnership project | Lauren Ball | University of Queensland | Queensland | Preventive health workforce | Helping Those Who Help: A co-created wellbeing intervention for health professionals to maximise retention and performance |
This project will co-design and test a wellbeing program for healthcare workers, aiming to help improve their health, support workforce retention, and ultimately strengthen the healthcare system. This project is part of a broader program of work as a Heart Foundation Catalyst Partner, called Springfield Healthy Hearts (opens in a new tab). |
Last updated09 October 2026