We’re so proud of the cardiovascular research community and everything they’re doing to collaborate and change the trajectory for cardiovascular diseases.
In 2021, ACvA launched the Excellence in Cardiovascular Research Awards to celebrate the achievements and contributions made by these dedicated and passionate researchers.
Please meet our 2024 Finalists.
2024 Game Changer Award Finalists
These Finalists and their teams are innovating and transforming how we do things in field of cardiovascular disease.
Dr Chai-Ann Ng & Team
Dr. Chai-Ann Ng is transforming the landscape of cardiac genetic research through his pioneering work in precision medicine for cardiac channelopathies. He has developed the first globally validated functional assays for ion channel variants, setting new standards in the field. These assays provide reliable, high-throughput data to reclassify Variants of Uncertain Significance (VUS), enabling accurate genetic diagnoses and actionable clinical decisions.
Dr. Ng’s research addresses critical challenges in managing cardiac channelopathies, such as long QT syndrome, a heart rhythm disorder that can cause sudden cardiac death, by distinguishing pathogenic variants from benign ones with unprecedented precision. His functional data not only improves diagnostic accuracy but also facilitates risk stratification, guiding clinicians in identifying high-risk individuals who may require interventions like implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.
His work also drives personalised treatment by supporting targeted pharmacotherapy based on variant-specific functional defects. Collaborating with global laboratories and clinicians, Dr. Ng has implemented this approach to reclassify VUS for hundreds of patients, significantly improving outcomes. His research is a cornerstone in the shift towards precision medicine, offering families clear answers, enabling cascade testing, and reducing the risk of sudden cardiac death. Dr. Ng’s contributions exemplify innovation with real-world impact, reshaping the clinical management of genetic cardiac disorders.
Dr Chai-Ann Ng is a Senior Staff Scientist at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and is a Conjoint Lecturer at the University of New South Wales.
Professor John Fraser & Team
The Critical Care Research Group (CCRG), led by Professor John Fraser, has pioneered a groundbreaking approach to heart transplantation that promises to save countless lives. Traditionally, donor hearts could only be preserved for approximately 4 hours, severely limiting transplantation opportunities. The CCRG’s innovative technique of hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (HOPE) has dramatically extended the viability of donor hearts, transforming medical possibilities.
Through a comprehensive 4-year study involving sophisticated large animal models, the team demonstrated that HOPE significantly improves transplant outcomes. Their landmark clinical trial, led by Professors David McGiffin and David Kaye, achieved a remarkable milestone by completing 36 HOPE-assisted heart transplants. Most impressively, they extended the ischemic time to 8 hours and 47 minutes—more than double the previous limit.
This breakthrough addresses a critical challenge in organ donation, where 75% of donor hearts are typically “wasted” due to geographical and time constraints. By expanding the potential distance and time donor hearts can travel, CCRG is not just conducting research—they are fundamentally changing the landscape of heart transplantation and offering renewed hope to patients with end-stage heart disease.
Professor John Fraser is Founder/Director of the Critical Care Research Group at The University of Queensland, Director of Intensive Care at St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital.
Professor Natasha Rogers & Team
Kidney and heart diseases are deeply connected, often amplifying each other’s impact and leaving millions worldwide with limited treatment options. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 15–20% of adults globally and significantly increases the risk of heart problems, creating a serious health challenge known as cardiorenal syndrome.
Prof. Natasha Rogers and her team are conducting groundbreaking research to unravel this complex relationship and bring hope to patients.
Prof. Rogers and her team have discovered that a protein called thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) plays a key role in causing heart damage in people with kidney disease. They showed that blocking TSP1 in a mouse model protected the heart from harm and uncovered how toxic substances that build up in the blood during kidney failure trigger this process. Without TSP1, harmful changes in heart cells, including inflammation and aging, were significantly reduced.
This discovery is transforming our understanding of these interconnected diseases and is especially important for patients with heart failure, who are highly vulnerable to kidney-related complications and face significantly higher risks during acute episodes.
Prof. Rogers’ findings pave the way for new treatments that target TSP1, offering the potential to protect both the heart and kidneys. By revealing this critical connection between the two organs, her research opens the door to life-changing therapies and a brighter future for millions living with these challenging conditions.
Professor Natasha Rogers is Head of Transplantation at Westmead Hospital and Co-Director of the Centre for Transplant and Renal Research at Westmead Institute for Medical Research. She is also Group Leader, Kidney Injury Group, Centre for Transplant and Renal Research.
2024 Mentor Award Finalists
These individuals have made ongoing and significant contributions to the research profession through outstanding mentoring. Mentorship rarely ‘counts’ in the tangible and traditional metrics of a career, but it matters and that is what these Finalists and all of the nominees for this Award recognise.
Professor John Fraser
Professor John Fraser stands as an extraordinary mentor whose impact on cardiovascular medical research and professional development has been truly transformative. As the founder of the Critical Care Research Group (CCRG) at The Prince Charles Hospital, he has cultivated a world-renowned training environment that has nurtured over 100 fellows from diverse backgrounds and countries over the past two decades.
His remarkable mentorship is evident in the impressive statistic that 60 of his fellows have completed PhDs, reflecting his commitment to academic excellence and personal growth. Professor Fraser’s approach goes beyond traditional supervision – he takes a deeply personal interest in each fellow’s journey, ensuring not just academic success but also a positive, enriching experience.
The CCRG’s international reputation stems directly from Professor Fraser’s exceptional networking skills and his ability to create a supportive, dynamic learning environment. Fellows from various disciplines, including medicine, surgery, intensive care, anaesthesia, biological sciences, and engineering, have benefited from his guidance, particularly in cardiovascular research.
His mentorship is characterised by genuine care, academic rigor, and an unwavering commitment to developing the next generation of medical researchers and clinicians.
Professor John Fraser is Founder/Director of the Critical Care Research Group at The University of Queensland, Director of Intensive Care at St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital.
Professor Sandy Middleton
Professor Sandy Middleton is a visionary leader in nursing research, transforming the landscape of healthcare through her exceptional mentorship and groundbreaking work in stroke care and implementation science.
Over two decades, Sandy has been instrumental in developing a world-class international translational research program. Her commitment extends far beyond academic achievements – she has systematically nurtured the next generation of researchers, supporting 38 formal students and numerous informal mentees across diverse backgrounds.
“Her generosity in mentorship is extraordinary,” says a colleague, highlighting Sandy’s dedication to empowering early-career researchers. Her approach is unique: consistently including junior researchers in grant applications and guiding clinician-researchers to their first publications.
Sandy’s impact is global. She has successfully implemented nurse-initiated protocols in 72 hospitals across 18 countries, including low and middle-income nations, breaking traditional barriers and elevating nursing autonomy. Through initiatives like the SPHERE Nursing and Midwifery Implementation Science Academy, she continues to create transformative pathways for nurses and midwives.
A true champion of research and human potential.
Professor Sandy Middleton is Professor of Nursing, and Director of the Nursing Research Institute at St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and Australian Catholic University.
Professor Mark Cooper
As Head of Diabetes at Monash University and a senior endocrinologist at the Alfred, Professor Mark Cooper AO is a world-leading researcher in diabetes and its complications, with a transformative approach to mentorship that extends far beyond traditional academic guidance.
Since 1993, Professor Cooper has supervised 37 higher degree candidates in Australia and mentored over 40 postdoctoral clinicians and young scientists in Australia and overseas. His commitment to developing future clinician-researchers is extraordinary, strategically supporting emerging talents by facilitating critical career opportunities and providing nuanced guidance on navigating complex research and clinical pathways.
“Within 24 hours, he responded enthusiastically, inviting me to join his department,” reflects the accessibility that defines his mentoring style.
By nurturing over 75 researchers across national and international contexts, Professor Cooper creates a lasting impact on medical science. He doesn’t just teach techniques; he inspires a new generation to push boundaries, ask critical questions, and reimagine the intersection of clinical practice and scientific discovery.
Professor Mark Cooper is the Head of the Diabetes Department in the Central Clinical School at Monash University.
2024 Translation Award Finalists
From lab bench to real life, the research ideas and observations from these Finalists and their teams are improving the health of individuals and the entire community.
Professor Nathan Palpant and Team
Heart attacks (myocardial infarctions) and strokes are among the leading causes of death worldwide, responsible for nearly 30% of annual deaths. These conditions result from blocked blood flow, causing tissue damage due to ischemia and acid build-up in affected areas. Current treatments, such as thrombolytic drugs, can restore blood flow but fail to prevent the underlying damage caused by ischemic cell death. This same problem limits the number of viable donor hearts for transplantation, compounding the global shortage.
Professor Nathan Palpant and his team have developed a revolutionary solution using Hi1a, a peptide derived from the venom of the K’gari funnel-web spider (Hadronyche infensa), native to Australia. Hi1a works by inhibiting acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a), a key driver of ischemic tissue death. Preclinical studies have demonstrated its ability to significantly reduce heart and brain damage in stroke and myocardial infarction and improve the viability of donor hearts.
In 2021, Nathan Palpant and his team co-founded Infensa Bioscience to translate this discovery into clinical therapeutics. The optimised drug, will begin Phase 1 clinical trials in 2025, aiming to save lives, improve recovery outcomes, and expand the donor heart pool.
This innovation represents a transformative, first-in-class approach to tackling one of the most urgent challenges in cardiovascular and transplant medicine.
Professor Nathan Palpant is a Professor and Group Leader at the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience. He is also one of the co-founders of Infensa Bioscience.
Professor Francine Marques and Team
High blood pressure is a silent killer affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide, including one in three adult Australians. Despite numerous medications, two-thirds of people with hypertension struggle to control their blood pressure. This persistent health challenge demands innovative solutions that go beyond traditional treatments.
Professor Francine Marques and her team made a breakthrough by looking in an unexpected place: the human gut microbiome. Her research discovered that certain gut bacteria can produce substances called short-chain fatty acids when breaking down dietary fibre. These substances have a remarkable ability to lower blood pressure naturally, offering a potentially revolutionary approach to managing cardiovascular health.
In a world-first clinical trial, her team developed HAMSAB, an engineered fibre that successfully reduced systolic blood pressure by 6.1 mmHg – equivalent to a standard blood pressure medication. This breakthrough could provide an affordable, accessible, and medication-free option for managing hypertension, with potential applications in treating other cardiovascular conditions. The research opens new possibilities for understanding how diet and gut health can directly impact our cardiovascular system.
Professor Francine Marques is Head of the Hypertension Research Laboratory at Monash University.
Dr Bradley MacDonald
Dr Bradley MacDonald is revolutionising the approach to Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), a devastating condition that disproportionately impacts Indigenous Australian communities. His innovative research aims to fundamentally change how RHD is diagnosed, understood, and managed from childhood through adulthood.
By developing sophisticated echocardiographic parameters and biomarkers, Dr MacDonald’s team is creating a groundbreaking method to predict RHD’s long-term trajectory. The research bridges critical gaps in early detection, particularly for vulnerable populations with limited access to specialised cardiac care.
The potential impact is profound: enabling healthcare providers to anticipate disease progression, customise interventions, and potentially prevent serious cardiac complications before they occur. By linking decades of hospital data, the research offers unprecedented insights into how RHD develops and impacts patients over time.
This work could transform RHD management globally, offering hope for reducing premature deaths, minimising healthcare burden, and improving quality of life for patients in high-risk communities. Dr MacDonald’s approach represents a critical step towards personalised, predictive cardiac care for vulnerable populations.
Dr Bradley MacDonald is a Paediatrician at the Perth Children’s Hospital and Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia.