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Cardiology Research

The Department of Cardiology at Concord Hospital undertakes a wide range of research in all areas of cardiovascular medicine.

We undertake studies using data from our own patients and from patients around the country that allow us to identify ways of improving patient care. Patients with heart attacks, angina, fluid build-up related to the heart (heart failure), clots in the lungs, and heart rhythm disturbances are included in these studies.

Our Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology laboratory research at the ANZAC Research Institute includes molecular research into how cells accumulate cholesterol to block arteries, how we can clear this cholesterol, and how clots form to cause heart attacks. 

Our research into the control of the microcirculation in patients having angiograms is studying how small blood vessels contribute to the blood supply of the heart. 

CONCORDANCE (ANZAC Research Institute)
A national registry for coronary care

The CONCORDANCE registry has been designed within a comparative effectiveness research (CER) framework to collect and report data from hospitals located in geographically diverse regions of Australia. Information including patient demographics, presenting characteristics, past medical history, in-hospital management and outcomes at six months and two years are entered into a web-based database using an electronic clinical record form (eCRF). Individual hospital information is returned to the sites in a real time confidential report detailing information on key performance indicator (KPI) process measures and outcomes benchmarked against the aggregated study cohort.

The CONCORDANCE registry is a clinician-driven initiative describing clinical care for ACS patients admitted to Australian hospitals. The registry generates high quality data which is fed back to clinicians, and key stakeholders in ACS care. Using a CER approach, the registry describes the translation of randomised trial evidence into practice and provides insights into strategies that could improve care and ultimately patient outcomes.

Our Research Team

Professor David Brieger Head of Department
Professor Leonard Kritharides Clinician researcher
Associate Professor Andy Yong Clinician researcher
Dr Cuneyt Ada Interventional Research Fellow
Dr Austin Chin Chwan Ng Clinician researcher
Associate Professor Harry Lowe Clinician researcher
Danica Watson Research Staff
Su Swe Research Staff

Selected Grants

Amount awarded Grant and project details
$10,000,000 Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) initiative, 2022-2025
Australian Stroke and Heart Research Accelerator (ASHRA)
Investigators: Chow C (CIA), Kritharides L (CI)
$7,913,500 Genentech, 2021-2023
Industry project grant. RESTORE-MI trial
Investigator: Yong A (CIC)
$5,000,000 NHMRC Synergy Grant, 2019-2024
SOLVE-CHD
Investigators: Redfern J (CIA), Brieger D (CIH)
$5,000,000 NHMRC Synergy Grant, 2024-2028
Solving Australia’s Hypertension Treatment Problem
Investigators: Schutte A, Rodgers A, Bonner C, Schlaich M, Gnanenthiran S, Hespe C, Atkins E, Gnjidic D, Halcomb E, Stocks N
$2,727,508 NHMRC, 2022-2025
Enhancing the electronic Medical record (eMR) to BolsteR Acute Coronary syndromE care (The EMBRACE Project)
Investigator: Brieger D
$1,816,175 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), 2020-2027
Anticoagulation for Stroke Prevention In patients with Recent Episodes of perioperative Atrial Fibrillation after noncardiac surgery - The ASPIRE-AF trial
Investigators: Chow C, Hillis G, Brieger D, Sverdlov A, Atherton J, Thomas L, Lindley R, Ferguson C, Devereaux PJ, Conen D
$980,000 NSW Cardiovascular Collaborative, 2023-2027
Implementing novel approaches to transform blood pressure control
Investigator: Gnanenthiran S (CIA)
$894,507 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), 2022-2025
QUICR
Investigators: Gallagher R (CIA), Brieger D (CID)
$782,008 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), 2022-2025
Ethnicity and CVD Care and outcomes in NSW
Investigators: Stanaway F (CIA), Kritharides L (CIC)
$250,000 George Institute NHMRC Program Seed Grant Funding, 2022-2023
Maximising the benefits of the next generation of BP measurement devices 
Investigator: Gnanenthiran, S
$250,000 George Institute NHMRC Program Seed Grant Funding, 2022-2023
Formative Research for Development of a Polypill-Based Implementation Strategy for Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction in Australia
Investigator: Gnanenthiran, S
$150,000 National Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2022-2024
Drug repurposing in cardiovascular disease: strategies to improve outcomes and accelerate drug translation
Investigator: Gnanenthiran, S
$73,139 National Heart Foundation Vanguard, 2023
Mapping the platelet phenotype in elderly patients with coronary artery disease
Investigators: Gnanenthiran S (CIB)

Our Publications

2023

Al-Mukhtar O, Stub D, Reid CM, Lo S, Lefkovits J, Walton A, Chew DP, Yong A, Nicholls SJ, Cox N, Peter K, Chan W. Variability in Contemporary Heparin Prescription and Activated Clotting Time Monitoring During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Call for Up-To-Date Evidence-Based Guidelines. Heart Lung Circ. 2023 Dec;32(12):1475-1481. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2023.09.020. Epub 2023 Nov 22.
Anastasius M, Thavendiranathan P, Kini A, Argulian E, Sharma S, Narula J, Lerakis S. Part 1: The Clinical Applications of Left Ventricular Myocardial Strain. Cardiol Rev. 2023 Apr 28. doi: 10.1097/CRD.0000000000000559. Epub ahead of print.
Anastasius M, Thavendiranathan P, Kini A, Argulian E, Sharma S, Narula J, Lerakis S. Part 2: The Clinical Applications of Left Ventricular Myocardial Strain. Cardiol Rev. 2023 Jun 5. doi: 10.1097/CRD.0000000000000560. Epub ahead of print.
Argha A, Celler BG, Yong A, Rubenis I, Butlin M, Avolio A. New Perspectives on Non-invasive Blood Pressure Measurement. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2023 Jul;2023:1-4. doi: 10.1109/EMBC40787.2023.10340757.
Barlow TR, Karve S, Brieger D, Lowe HC. Predicting Statin Adherence Following Hospital Discharge for Acute Coronary Syndromes: What's the Score? Heart Lung Circ. 2023 May;32(5):553-554. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2023.04.004.
Carson JL, Brooks MM, Chaitman BR, Alexander JH, Goodman SG, Bertolet M, Abbott JD, Cooper HA, Rao SV, Triulzi DJ, Fergusson DA, Kostis WJ, Noveck H, Simon T, Steg PG, DeFilippis AP, Goldsweig AM, Lopes RD, White H, Alsweiler C, Morton E, Hébert PC; MINT Investigators. Rationale and design for the myocardial ischemia and transfusion (MINT) randomized clinical trial. Am Heart J. 2023 Mar;257:120-129. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2022.11.015. Epub 2022 Nov 20.
Celler BG, Yong A, Rubenis I, Butlin M, Argha A, Rehan R, Avolio A. Accurate detection of Korotkoff sounds reveals large discrepancy between intra-arterial systolic pressure and simultaneous noninvasive measurement of blood pressure with brachial cuff sphygmomanometry. J Hypertens. 2024 May 1;42(5):873-882. doi: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000003651. Epub 2024 Jan 8. 
Chan DC, Kritharides L, Watts GF. The remnant-cholesterol/CRP nexus: Trouble and strife when the fat hits the fire. Atherosclerosis. 2023 Aug;379:117169. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2023.06.075. Epub 2023 Jun 28.
Cheng YY, Brieger D, Bannon P, Chow V, Kritharides L, Ng ACC. Outcomes Following Triple Cardiac Valve Surgery Over 17-years: A Multicentre Population-Linkage Study. Heart Lung Circ. 2023 Feb;32(2):269-277. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2022.09.018. Epub 2022 Nov 5.
Cheng YY, Shu MWS, Rubenis I, Vijayarajan V, Hsu AC, Hyun K, Brieger D, Chow V, Kritharides L, Ng ACC. Trends in Isolated Mitral Valve Repair or Replacement Surgery in Australia: A Statewide Cohort Linkage Study. Heart Lung Circ. 2024 Jan;33(1):120-129. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2023.11.023. Epub 2023 Dec 29.
de Oliveira Costa J, Pearson SA, Brieger D, Lujic S, Shawon MSR, Jorm LR, van Gool K, Falster MO. In-hospital outcomes by insurance type among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions for acute myocardial infarction in New South Wales public hospitals. Int J Equity Health. 2023 Oct 23;22(1):226. doi: 10.1186/s12939-023-02030-1.
Dong X, Strudwick M, Wang WY, Borlaug BA, van der Geest RJ, Ng AC, Delgado V, Bax JJ, Ng AC. Impact of body mass index and diabetes on myocardial fat content, interstitial fibrosis and function. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2023 Feb;39(2):379-390. doi: 10.1007/s10554-022-02723-8. Epub 2022 Oct 28.
Figtree GA, Vernon ST, Harmer JA, Gray MP, Arnott C, Bachour E, Barsha G, Brieger D, Brown A, Celermajer DS, Channon KM, Chew NWS, Chong JJH, Chow CK, Cistulli PA, Ellinor PT, Grieve SM, Guzik TJ, Hagström E, Jenkins A, Jennings G, Keech AC, Kott KA, Kritharides L, Mamas MA, Mehran R, Meikle PJ, Natarajan P, Negishi K, O'Sullivan J, Patel S, Psaltis PJ, Redfern J, Steg PG, Sullivan DR, Sundström J, Vogel B, Wilson A, Wong D, Bhatt DL, Kovacic JC, Nicholls SJ; CRE for CAD Collaborators. Clinical Pathway for Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients Without Conventional Modifiable Risk Factors: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2023 Sep 26;82(13):1343-1359. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.06.045.
Gale CP, Stocken DD, Aktaa S, Reynolds C, Gilberts R, Brieger D, Carruthers K, Chew DP, Goodman SG, Fernandez C, Sharples LD, Yan AT, Fox K. Effectiveness of GRACE risk score in patients admitted to hospital with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (UKGRIS): parallel group cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2023 Jun 14;381:e073843. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2022-073843.
Gnanenthiran SR, Agarwal A, Patel A. Frontiers of cardiovascular polypills: From atherosclerosis and beyond. Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2023 Apr;33(3):182-189. doi: 10.1016/j.tcm.2021.12.013. Epub 2021 Dec 30.
Gnanenthiran SR, Jha V, Salam A, Atkins E, Chow CK, Nelson MR, Rakotz M, Schlaich MP, Schutte AE, Usherwood T, Rodgers A. Wisdom of the Crowd: insights gained from comparing predicted and observed effects of blood pressure lowering strategies. J Hum Hypertens. 2023 May;37(5):422-424. doi: 10.1038/s41371-023-00816-y. Epub 2023 Apr 11.
Gnanenthiran SR, Limaye S. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and myopericarditis. Intern Med J. 2023 Feb;53(2):172-177. doi: 10.1111/imj.15748. Epub 2022 May 28.
Gnanenthiran SR, Tan I, Atkins ER, Avolio A, Bennett B, Chapman N, Chow CK, Freed R, Gnjidic D, Hespe C, Kaur B, Liu HM, Patel A, Peiris D, Reid CM, Schlaich M, Sharman JE, Stergiou GS, Usherwood T, Gianacas C, Rodgers A, Schutte AE. Transforming blood pressure control in primary care through a novel remote decision support strategy based on wearable blood pressure monitoring: The NEXTGEN-BP randomized trial protocol. Am Heart J. 2023 Nov;265:50-58. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2023.07.005. Epub 2023 Jul 20. 
Gnanenthiran SR, Webster R, Silva A, Maulik PK, Salam A, Selak V, Guggilla RK, Schutte AE, Patel A, Rodgers A; TRIUMPH Study Group. Reduced efficacy of blood pressure lowering drugs in the presence of diabetes mellitus-results from the TRIUMPH randomised controlled trial. Hypertens Res. 2023 Jan;46(1):128-135. doi: 10.1038/s41440-022-01051-7. Epub 2022 Oct 14.
Holmes L, Lui I, Lilburn P, Naoum C, Kritharides L, Ridley L, Morgan L. Bronchiectasis is associated with coronary artery calcification even in never smokers. Respirology. 2023 Aug;28(8):804-806. doi: 10.1111/resp.14527. Epub 2023 May 30.
Jaltotage B, Ihdayhid AR, Lan NSR, Pathan F, Patel S, Arnott C, Figtree G, Kritharides L, Shamsul Islam SM, Chow CK, Rankin JM, Nicholls SJ, Dwivedi G. Artificial Intelligence in Cardiology: An Australian Perspective. Heart Lung Circ. 2023 Aug;32(8):894-904. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2023.06.703. Epub 2023 Jul 26.
Koo B-K, Hwang D, Park S, Kuramitsu S, Yonetsu T, Kim CH et al. Practical application of coronary physiological assessment: Asia-Pacific expert consensus document: Part 2. JACC: Asia. 2023 Dec;3(6):825-842. Epub 2023 Sept 12. doi: 10.1016/j.jacasi.2023.07.004.
Koo BK, Lee JM, Hwang D, Park S, Shiono Y, Yonetsu T, Lee SH, Kawase Y, Ahn JM, Matsuo H, Shin ES, Hu X, Ding D, Fezzi S, Tu S, Low AF, Kubo T, Nam CW, Yong ASC, Harding SA, Xu B, Hur SH, Choo GH, Tan HC, Mullasari A, Hsieh IC, Kakuta T, Akasaka T, Wang J, Tahk SJ, Fearon WF, Escaned J, Park SJ. Practical Application of Coronary Physiologic Assessment: Asia-Pacific Expert Consensus Document: Part 1. JACC Asia. 2023 Aug 29;3(5):689-706. doi: 10.1016/j.jacasi.2023.07.003.
Krishnamurthy SN, Pocock S, Kaul P, Owen R, Goodman SG, Granger CB, Nicolau JC, Simon T, Westermann D, Yasuda S, Andersson K, Brandrup-Wognsen G, Hunt PR, Brieger DB, Cohen MG. Comparing the long-term outcomes in chronic coronary syndrome patients with prior ST-segment and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: findings from the TIGRIS registry. BMJ Open. 2023 Dec 18;13(12):e070237. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070237. 
Lin J, Pearson SA, Greenfield JR, Park KH, Havard A, Brieger D, Day RO, Falster MO, de Oliveira Costa J. Trends in use of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) in Australia in the era of increased evidence of their cardiovascular benefits (2014-2022). Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2023 Sep;79(9):1239-1248. doi: 10.1007/s00228-023-03539-8. Epub 2023 Jul 14.
Munhoz D, Collet C, Mizukami T, Yong A, Leone AM, Eftekhari A, Ko B, da Costa BR, Berry C, Collison D, Perera D, Christiansen EH, Rivero F, Zimmermann FM, Ando H, Matsuo H, Nakayama M, Escaned J, Sonck J, Sakai K, Adjedj J, Desta L, van Nunen LX, West NEJ, Fournier S, Storozhenko T, Amano T, Engstrøm T, Johnson T, Shinke T, Biscaglia S, Fearon WF, Ali Z, De Bruyne B, Johnson NP. Rationale and design of the pullback pressure gradient (PPG) global registry. Am Heart J. 2023 Nov;265:170-179. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2023.07.016. Epub 2023 Aug 21.
Nicolau JC, Owen R, Furtado RHM, Goodman SG, Granger CB, Cohen MG, Westermann D, Yasuda S, Simon T, Hedman K, Hunt PR, Brieger DB, Pocock SJ. Long-term outcomes among stable post-acute myocardial infarction patients living in rural versus urban areas: insights from the prospective, observational TIGRIS registry. Open Heart. 2023 Aug;10(2):e002326. doi: 10.1136/openhrt-2023-002326.
O'Hagan ET, Thiagalingam A, Lowe H, Min H, Marschner S, Jackson J, Klimis H, Kozor R, Figtree G, Kritharides L, Chow CK. Lifestyle changes and quality of life a year after attending Rapid Access Cardiology Clinics: an observational study. Intern Med J. 2023 Dec;53(12):2350-2354. doi: 10.1111/imj.16289.
Pearlman A, Amos D, Elder A, Lowe HC, Arnold R. Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy 'Clustering': A Novel Observation Associated With an Unprecedented Flooding Event. Heart Lung Circ. 2023 May;32(5):e36-e37. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2023.02.008.
Pennings GJ, Reddel CJ, Chen VM, Gnanenthiran SR, Kritharides L. Perspective: Collagen induced platelet activation via the GPVI receptor as a primary target of colchicine in cardiovascular disease. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023 Jan 19;9:1104744. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1104744.
Ramponi F, Seco M, Bannon PG, Kritharides L, Qasabian R, Wilson MK, Vallely MP. Synchronous Carotid Endarterectomy and Anaortic Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. Heart Lung Circ. 2023 May;32(5):645-651. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2023.01.014. Epub 2023 Mar 10.
Ratwatte S, Ng ACC, Hyun K, Philip R, Boroumand F, Weber C, Kritharides L, Brieger D. Pre-hospital and in-hospital ST-elevation myocardial infarction from 2008 to 2020 in Australia. Int J Cardiol Cardiovasc Risk Prev. 2023 Sep 21;19:200214. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcrp.2023.200214.
Rehan R, Beltrame J, Yong A. Insights into the invasive diagnostic challenges of coronary artery vasospasm - A systematic review. J Cardiol. 2024 Jan;83(1):8-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jjcc.2023.07.020. Epub 2023 Aug 3.
Rehan R, Yong A, Ng M, Weaver J, Puranik R. Coronary microvascular dysfunction: A review of recent progress and clinical implications. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023 Jan 26;10:1111721. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1111721.
Schutte AE, Tan I, Gnanenthiran SR, Chan J, Kyriakoulis KG, Schlaich MP, Rodgers A, Stergiou GS. Reply to 'Inadequate study designs for the evaluation of blood pressure monitoring devices and their potential misleading conclusions'. J Hypertens. 2023 Aug 1;41(8):1349-1350. doi: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000003462.
Sritharan HP, Bhatia KS, van Gaal W, Kritharides L, Chow CK, Bhindi R. Association between pre-existing cardiovascular disease, mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in hospitalised patients with COVID-19. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023 Jul 5;10:1224886. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1224886.
Sverdlov AL, Koczwara B, Cehic DA, Clark RA, Hunt L, Nicholls SJ, Thomas L, Thornton-Benko E, Kritharides L; Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA)–Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) Cardio-Oncology Working Group. When Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Intersect: The Challenge and the Opportunity of Cardio-Oncology. Heart Lung Circ. 2023 Jun 13:S1443-9506(23)00510-3. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2023.04.301. Epub ahead of print.
Tan I, Gnanenthiran SR, Chan J, Kyriakoulis KG, Schlaich MP, Rodgers A, Stergiou GS, Schutte AE. Evaluation of the ability of a commercially available cuffless wearable device to track blood pressure changes. J Hypertens. 2023 Jun 1;41(6):1003-1010. doi: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000003428. Epub 2023 Apr 3.
Vijayarajan V, Hsu A, Cheng YY, Shu MWS, Hyun K, Sy R, Chow V, Brieger D, Kritharides L, Ng ACC. Outcomes Following Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Insertion in Patients 80 Years of Age or Older: A Statewide Population Cohort Study. Can J Cardiol. 2024 Mar;40(3):389-398. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2023.10.019. Epub 2023 Oct 28.
Virk SA, Hyun K, Brieger D, Sy RW. Prognostic benefit of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in heart failure: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Arrhythm. 2023 Jan 17;39(2):129-141. doi: 10.1002/joa3.12812.
Ward NC, Watts GF, Bishop W, Colquhoun D, Hamilton-Craig C, Hare DL, Kangaharan N, Kostner KM, Kritharides L, O'Brien R, Mori TA, Nestel PJ, Nicholls SJ, Psaltis PJ, Raffoul N, White HD, Sullivan DR. Australian Atherosclerosis Society Position Statement on Lipoprotein(a): Clinical and Implementation Recommendations. Heart Lung Circ. 2023 Mar;32(3):287-296. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2022.11.015. Epub 2023 Jan 25.
Wong CCY, Yong ASC. Quantitative Flow Ratio-Guided Revascularization: Equally Effective Between the Sexes. JACC Asia. 2023 Dec 26;4(3):213-215. doi: 10.1016/j.jacasi.2023.11.003.
Yu C, Meier S, Bestawros D, Sun D, Trieu J, Yong ASC, Wong CCY, Yiannikas J, Kritharides L, Beltrame JF, Naoum C. Role of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Troponin T in Definitive Diagnosis of Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA). Can J Cardiol. 2023 Jul;39(7):936-944. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2023.04.009. Epub 2023 Apr 18.
Yu C, Pathan S, Jeyaprakash P, Kritharides L, Pathan F, Negishi K. Cardiac magnetic relaxometry versus ejection fraction in anthracycline-related cardiac changes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Open Heart. 2023 Jul;10(2):e002344. doi: 10.1136/openhrt-2023-002344.