REDEEM study

Student research project

Supervisor(s): Professor Tom Marwick and Dr Cheng Hwee Soh

The REDEEM study aims to understand whether chemotherapy as a cancer treatment causes damage to the heart. We also want to know if best practice management (e.g. heart medication or exercise training) restore heart function.

Project summary

The goal of the REDEEM study is to identify the feasibility and value of risk-guided cardiac rehabilitation (exercise, risk factor modification, and behavioural support) as a component of survivorship care. The objectives are to determine:

1. The prevalence of subclinical LVD compared with matched community controls.
2. The feasibility of a multimodal intervention.
3. Its efficacy on increasing cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂peak), strength and quality of life, and reducing sedentariness.

An additional objective is to equip a cohort of cancer survivors with a better understanding of the time course, mechanisms, and predictors of progression to HF, who may participate in further follow-up.

The primary hypothesis of the REDEEM study is that the use of surveillance imaging to detect subclinical LVD can be used to select patients for a multi-disciplinary cardio-oncology disease management plan (CO-DMP) and thereby reduce risk of HF.

The primary outcome is aerobic capacity at 12 month follow-up in intervention vs usual care. Secondary endpoints (from baseline to 12 months) include:

1. The development of cardiotoxicity (defined as >10% absolute reduction in LVEF to <55% / 12% reduction in GLS.
2. The development of symptomatic heart failure.
3. Feasibility.
4. Neuromuscular strength and endurance.
5. Sedentary behaviour.
6. Change in QoL.
7. To determine the impact of patient visualisation of cardiac images depicting LV dysfunction on medication adherence and engagement with lifestyle changes. 

Related methods, skills or technologies

This project will provide the opportunity for the student to explore statistical analytics while learning imaging techniques, disease risk management and interventions.

This project is suitable for a PhD or Honours student.

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