$2.6 million boost for heart disease research

$2.6 million boost for heart disease research

Relatives of patients with premature heart disease will be targeted in new research to be conducted by the University of Tasmania's Menzies Research Institute after it secured a major grant to look at methods of assessing heart disease risk.

Relatives of patients with premature heart disease will be targeted in new research to be conducted by the University of Tasmania's Menzies Research Institute after it secured a major grant to look at methods of assessing heart disease risk.

The Menzies Director and cardiologist, Professor Tom Marwick (pictured), received the $2.6 million grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council through a competitive application process. Menzies neuroscientist Dr Kaylene Young received a grant for $586,000 in the same funding round.

Professor Marwick's $2.6 million grant will allow a randomised controlled trial that will inform methods for assessing patients' risk of coronary artery disease. The trial will involve the relatives of patients with premature coronary artery disease.

Professor Marwick said coronary artery disease remained a major cause of premature death and disability, especially in Tasmania.

"This work is very significant for population health in Tasmania and for clinical research into heart disease. One third of all Tasmanian deaths are related to cardiovascular disease so to be able to investigate new preventative treatments in this area is very important for us here at Menzies."

Dr Young's grant of $586,000 will be used in the development of a non-invasive therapy to reinsulate damaged nerve cells in the brain for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

The two Menzies grants will assist in the institute's mission to discover more about the prevention and treatment of diseases that impact on the Tasmanian population.

The grants were part of a $539.8 million announcement made today by Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Minister for Health Peter Dutton, for 773 grants across a broad range of diseases and health conditions.

Information released by:

Miranda Harman

Marketing and Communications Manager

Menzies Research Institute Tasmania

University of Tasmania

Phone: 61 3 6226-7751

61 427 199 562

Email:  miranda.harman@utas.edu.au

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