This Christmas, your gift will help us undertake the most comprehensive study ever conducted on the causes of HCM – a genetic heart disease. Will you be there for more people like Kate? I am counting on you.
I am Professor Paul Bannon, and I need your help…
Kate's Story: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy with Obstruction
"The Baird Institute does such important work and I was grateful that I could contribute to the research they conduct, especially through donating my heart tissue that Professor removed to the Biobank. Whenever I tell my story, while it was one of the hardest times in my life, I am continually filled with gratitude for the amazing medical care I received and the research into my condition to make this surgery possible." - Kate
In April 2022, Kate was 45 and living an active, healthy life. A routine check-up and a mention of some dizziness and chest tightness during exercise surely were nothing to be overly concerned about, right?
But for Kate, this was the start of a journey that would change her life.
The diagnosis was severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)—a genetic heart disease most people have never even heard of. It’s a disease that thickens the heart muscle, leading to debilitating symptoms and, in the worst cases, sudden cardiac death. We’ve seen first-hand the devastating impact of this silent killer, and Kate’s case is a stark reminder that it can strike anyone, even those who seem perfectly healthy.
Heart disease is, after all, our number one killer, affecting 1.2 million Australians and leaving 300,000 with chronic heart failure, a condition for which the only cure is a heart transplant.
Without a deeper understanding of the disease at the molecular level, we remain limited in our ability to develop effective therapies and save lives.
For the next seven months, Kate’s world shrank to a blur of doctor’s appointments, tests, and a desperate struggle to manage the worsening symptoms. Medication wasn’t enough.
“The next 7 months were a whirlwind of cardiology appointments and tests trying to get my increasing symptoms under control and to learn how to live with this genetic disease. By November I was constantly dizzy, could barely walk up a flight of stairs without feeling like I was going to pass out and was completely exhausted. My heart was working very hard, and medication could no longer manage my symptoms,” notes Kate.
That’s when Kate was referred to me. I recommended a complex and invasive procedure called a “Septal Myectomy”, a surgery to remove part of the thickened heart muscle. It’s a challenging operation, but one that offers hope to those like Kate who are battling the debilitating effects of HCM.
I am very pleased to say the surgery was a success!
Kate’s story is a testament to the power of surgical intervention, but it’s also a testament to the power of research. The Baird Institute, of which I am the Chair, is Australia’s only dedicated cardiothoracic surgical training and research institute.
Can more people like Kate count on you to be there for them?
Your generous donation will help us reach our target of undertaking the most comprehensive study of HCM ever conducted. Your gift will fund cutting-edge single-cell analysis technology, costing approximately $150,000, allowing us to study in-depth the molecular mechanisms of this devastating disease, enabling us to identify the specific genetic mutations, cellular pathways, and biochemical processes that contribute to HCM. This will pave the way for targeted drug development and personalised treatment plans.
Can I count on you to be there for even more Australians, some just like you?
Every dollar you give brings us closer to understanding the mysteries of the human heart, developing new treatments, and ultimately saving lives. Your donation is not just a contribution; it’s a lifesaver for thousands of Australians each year.
Just like Kate’s story, the individual whose life was transformed by surgery and research, your special gift this Christmas could be the catalyst for countless more stories like hers.
If you have any questions or would prefer to donate over the phone, don’t hesitate to contact our CEO, Catherine Rush on (02) 9550 2350.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Professor Paul Bannon PhD MB BS FRACS
Chair, The Baird Institute
We Urgently Need Your Support
I think I speak for everyone when I say, we just can't stop now.
The fight against HCM is far from over. While surgery can offer relief and extend life, it’s not a cure. We need to do more research and understand the very building blocks of this disease so we can develop targeted therapies and preventive measures that could save countless more lives.
The Sydney Heart Bank
The Sydney Heart Bank plays a role in our research to unravel the molecular aspects of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). We aim to scrutinize each gene, protein, and enzyme found in the myectomy samples of HCM patients, consisting of 10,000 genes, 7,000 proteins, and 500 enzymes per sample.
The biobank’s significance is critical as it functions as a storage facility that safeguards human heart tissues so that we can research the molecular mechanisms underlying heart conditions. The Sydney Heart Bank enhances our comprehension of HCM through an in-depth analysis of these indicators. It empowers us to make ground-breaking discoveries that could provide lifesaving therapies worldwide. This pioneering work highlights the role of the biobank in driving medical advancements that promise to transform the management and prevention of heart diseases globally.
