About Community Prevention and Cardiac Research
The Community Prevention and Cardiac Research team undertakes clinical trials and research studies to test novel interventions in the community that aim to improve health care delivery and health outcomes. The Community Prevention and Cardiac Research Unit is devoted to helping people identify and address their risk of developing or managing two of Australia’s most prevalent chronic diseases — cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The research of the Community Prevention and Cardiac Research team is predominantly undertaken in community settings including identification of higher risk individuals with asymptomatic (no signs or symptoms) disease.
We conduct clinical trial research to demonstrate the benefits of nurse-facilitated models of care. Integral to this work is the establishment of nurse-led clinics and the use of mHealth resources to promote health behaviour change and implement gold standard care to enhance management.
Sponsored (pharmaceutical) international clinical trials are performed in collaboration with HeartWest, which adjoins the Baker Institute Clinical Trial and Research Centre in Melbourne’s outer west (Wyndham).
We collaborate with eminent cardiologists, endocrinologists, leading GP academics, health economists and Aboriginal health researchers. These partnerships, combined with our expert team of research fellows, clinical researchers, cardiac nurses, data management and support staff enable us to deliver personalised care that targets risk and protective factors to help those individuals who need it most.
Research focus
- Randomised controlled trials for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
- Clinical trials in cardiovascular disease.
- Evaluation of nurse-led models of care and disease management strategies.
- Application of digital (mHealth) delivery of health care.
- Risk detection and surveillance using traditional and novel risk indicators such as polygenic risk scores.
- Risk communication.