Since I started with the Baird Institute 1.5 years ago, my research accomplishments have grown exponentially. This is only possible through the continuous support of my supervisors and mentors within the Centre for Heart Failure and Diseases of the Aorta – Associate Professor Sean Lal, Professor Paul Bannon and Professor John O’Sullivan. Importantly, all these achievements are only possible with the support of the donors, which help fund our ground-breaking research here at the University of Sydney.
One major project we hope to publish this year, investigates the heart’s natural ability to replace damaged tissue, known as cardiac regeneration. This heart tissue can die following a major event, such as a heart attack (aka myocardial infarction). Our new understanding of how the heart behaves in these circumstances could have major implications for how we treat heart failure.
We have recently begun research into our new degradable artery graft. This artery graft will be used to replace arteries that have been damaged through disease. As arteries are quite flexible, our replacement has been designed to be more elastic than currently available materials, which are too stiff. Additionally, after it has been surgically implanted, the replacement will slowly degrade and will encourage the artery to grow back together. It is through this process that the body will be able to heal itself, replacing damaged arteries, initially with our degradable replacement, followed by a new healthy blood vessel. This new artery graft could revolutionise how we treat artery disease, allowing patients to regrow their own damaged arteries.
I would like to thank all the wonderful supporters of The Baird Institute for helping us undertake such exciting and groundbreaking research.
