Molecular Cardiology

The Molecular Cardiology Unit researches the commonest causes of death and sickness in our community: heart disease and kidney disease, and lung inflammation as occurs in COVID and other forms of pneumonia.

We investigate heart disease and kidney disease, and lung inflammation – as occurs in COVID and other forms of pneumonia. We use a range of methodologies, including community-based studies, clinical trials of new therapies, and laboratory-based studies, in order to design improved strategies for the treatment and prevention of these conditions.

Diseases we study

Current research projects

SCReening Evaluation of the Evolution of New Heart Failure (SCREEN-HF) study

We led the SCREEN-HF study, the largest Australian study of the evolution of heart disease in 4,000 community members. The SCREEN-HF study is providing valuable insights into how to better prevent heart and kidney disease.

Inhibition of plasma kallikrein as a new therapy for lung injury

In the Can Heparin Administration Reduce Lung Injury (CHARLI) study of 256 patients admitted to intensive care with lung inflammation, led by St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne Intensive Care Physician Barry Dixon, we showed that nebulised heparin accelerated recovery of lung inflammation. As an extension to the CHARLI study, with support from pharmaceutical company Takeda, we are investigating a novel therapy for lung inflammation.

Early prediction of kidney failure

Kidney function declines with age. People with more rapid decline in kidney function are not only at increased risk of kidney failure but also heart disease. In collaboration with colleagues at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, we are using data from participants of the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab) to develop a new strategy for early identification of individuals with rapid decline in kidney function who can benefit from treatments to preserve kidney function and prevent heart disease.

Understanding sudden death after heart attack

Approximately 15% of heart attacks cause sudden death before the patient arrives at a hospital. In collaboration with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, we are investigating changes in heart muscle that may contribute to sudden death when people have a heart attack. This research will provide insight into how to prevent sudden death.

Improved diagnosis of heart attack

Measurement of a chemical in blood called troponin is an important method to diagnose heart attack. However, as we showed in the SCREEN-HF study, as many as 5% of people in the community without heart attack have increased levels of troponin in their blood that can mislead clinicians. In collaboration with Christina Trambas (Director of Chemical Pathology at St Vincent’s Hospital), we are investigating an abnormal form of troponin that causes elevated troponin levels in people without heart attack.

People

Kalayani McKubre, Technical Assistant

Selected publications

Campbell DJ, Maglianno DJ, Shaw JE. Prediction of cardiovascular death and non-fatal cardiovascular events by the Kidney age–Chronological age Difference (KCD) score in men and women of different ages in a community-based cohort. BMJ Open 2023;13:e068494

Campbell DJ. Neprilysin inhibitors and bradykinin. Frontiers in Medicine 2018;5:257.

Campbell DJ, Gong FF, Jelinek MV, Castro JM, Coller JM, McGrady M, Boffa U, Shiel L, Wang BH, Liew D, Wolfe R, Stewart S, Owen AJ, Krum H, Reid CM, Prior DL. Prediction of incident heart failure by serum NT-proBNP level in a community-based cohort. European Journal of Heart Failure 2019;21:449-459. (Published with Editorial Commentary)

Coller JM, Gong FF, McGrady M, Jelinek MV, Castro JM, Boffa U, Shiel L, Liew D, Stewart S, Krum H, Reid CM, Prior DL, Campbell DJ. Age-specific diastolic dysfunction improves prediction of symptomatic heart failure by Stage B heart failure. ESC Heart Failure 2019;6:747-757.

Campbell DJ, Gong FF, Jelinek MV, Castro JM, Coller JM, McGrady M, Boffa U, Shiel L, Liew D, Stewart S, Owen AJ, Krum H, Reid CM, Prior DL. Threshold body mass index and sex-specific waist circumference for increased risk of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology 2019;26:1594-1602. (Published with Editorial Commentary)

Gong FF, Coller JM, McGrady M, Boffa U, Shiel L, Liew D, Stewart S, Owen AJ, Krum H, Reid CM, Prior DL, Campbell DJ. Age-related longitudinal change in cardiac structure and function in adults at increased cardiovascular risk. ESC Heart Fail. 2020;7:1344-1361.

Dixon B, Smith RJ, Campbell DJ, Moran JL, Doig GS, Rechnitzer T, MacIsaac CM, Simpson N, van Haren FMP, Ghosh AN, Gupta S, Broadfield EJC, Crozier TME, French C, Santamaria JD, on behalf of the CHARLI Study Group. Nebulised heparin for patients with or at risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet Respir Med. 2021;9:360-372.

Campbell DJ, Coller JM, Gong FF, McGrady M, Boffa U, Shiel L, Liew D, Stewart S, Owen AJ, Krum H, Reid CM, Prior DL. Kidney age – chronological age difference (KCD) score provides an age-adapted measure of kidney function. BMC Nephrology 2021;22:152.

Govindaraju T, McCaffrey TA, McNeil JJ, Reid CM, Smith BJ, Campbell DJ, Owen AJ. Mis-reporting of energy intake among Australian older adults: prevalence, characteristics and associations with quality of life. Nutrition 2021;90:111259.

Govindaraju T, McCaffrey TA, McNeil JJ, Reid CM, Smith BJ, Campbell DJ, Liew D, Owen AJ. Quality of life and associations with health-related behaviours among older adults with increased cardiovascular risk. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases. (in press, accepted January 19, 2022)

Coller JM, Gong FF, McGrady M, Shiel L, Liew D, Stewart S, Owen AJ, Krum H, Reid CM, Prior DL, Campbell DJ. Risk factors for asymptomatic echocardiographic abnormalities that predict symptomatic heart failure. ESC Heart Fail. 2022;9:196-212.

Molecular Cardiology Laboratory

Diseases we study

Current research projects

People

Selected publications