Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, 12 November 2024:

The Baird Institute, Australia’s only dedicated cardiothoracic surgical training and research institute, is proud to announce the official launch of its Centre for Heart Failure and Diseases of the Aorta. At the heart of the new Centre is the Stiff Heart Failure Project, a research initiative addressing the most common form of heart failure, Stiff Heart Failure (medically known as Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction or Diastolic Heart Failure). This project leverages the world’s first and only heart failure biopsy programme and access to the world’s largest heart biobank.

Through this project, the team has commenced the world’s first therapy for Stiff Heart Failure that directly targets a causal mechanism in the heart’s cells. In this clinical trial, named CardioNAD, researchers are replenishing a molecule that enables energy generation and restores the active relaxation of the heart. What sets this trial apart is the unique biopsy opportunity for patients undergoing heart surgery. This allows the team to trace the molecule from oral ingestion to cardiac tissue levels—a singular achievement in cardiovascular clinical trials. By directly addressing the underlying mechanisms of Stiff Heart Failure, the CardioNAD trial represents a major step forward in the field of cardiology. It offers new hope for patients suffering from this common and debilitating condition.

Stiff Heart Failure is primarily a disease of aging and is alarmingly common. The statistics are sobering: one in ten people aged 45 will develop Stiff Heart Failure in their lifetime. The prevalence of this condition is rapidly increasing, with an expected 100,000 new cases in Australia alone over the next five years. This form of heart failure occurs when the heart muscle stiffens and cannot relax properly, leading to severe health complications. Perhaps most concerning is the high mortality rate associated with this condition – once diagnosed, the five-year mortality rate is 75 per cent, which is worse than many forms of cancer.

Professor Paul Bannon, Chair of The Baird Institute and renowned Heart Surgeon, Researcher and Founder, says. “The Centre for Heart Failure and Diseases of the Aorta and the CardioNAD trial represents a major leap forward in cardiothoracic research. By focusing on both the aorta and the heart, we are uniquely positioned to examine their interaction in healthy ageing and heart disease, setting us apart from other global facilities that typically focus on one specialist area. Our mission is to pioneer new pathways to understand and treat some of the most challenging cardiovascular conditions. This research can potentially improve countless lives, not just in Australia, but around the world.”

The Centre boasts several globally unique resources, including one of the world’s only aorta biobanks and pre-clinical heart failure and aortic disease models. The Sydney Heart Bank, the world’s largest repository of cryopreserved human hearts, is central to its research capabilities, which fosters global research collaboration.

A key strength of the Centre lies in its integrated approach, bringing together laboratory scientists, clinical scientists, and clinicians to work collaboratively across all levels of basic and clinical science. This holistic strategy aims to accelerate the translation of research findings into practical, life-saving treatments.

For more information, please visit The Centre for Heart Failure and Diseases of the Aorta

About The Baird Institute

The Baird Institute is Australia’s only dedicated cardiothoracic surgical training and research institute. Founded with a mission to improve patient outcomes through innovative research, the Institute is at the forefront of heart and lung surgical advancements. Home to the world’s largest heart biobank and one of the only aorta biobanks globally, The Baird Institute uniquely integrates laboratory science, clinical research, and surgical practice. Through its Centre for Heart Failure and Diseases of the Aorta, the Institute leads ground-breaking initiatives like the Stiff Heart Failure Project, fostering global collaborations and pioneering bench-to-bedside solutions in cardiovascular health.

For more information, visit: https://bairdinstitute.org.au/