Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, refers to a range of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias. These conditions can develop over time due to a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries, high blood pressure, or damage to the heart muscle. Symptoms can vary depending on the type of heart disease but may include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet. Treatment options can include lifestyle changes, medications, or surgical procedures, depending on the severity of the condition. Prevention of heart disease is possible through a healthy diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
Cardiac Regeneration
As part of the Institute's O'Brien Department we use human stem cells to engineer beating heart tissue on a lab dish to develop effective and translatable treatments for heart disease.
Lab head: Associate Professor Shiang (Max) LimMolecular 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.
Lab head: Associate Professor Duncan (Jock) Campbell