Research Grant Recipients 2024

The Future Leader Fellowship program aims to support the best and brightest in cardiovascular research. It supports aspiring leaders who are developing independence and their own research portfolio, through to established leaders of cardiovascular research groups with extensive research programs.

The Future Leader Fellowship program aims to support the best and brightest in cardiovascular research. It supports aspiring leaders who are developing independence and their own research portfolio, through to established leaders of cardiovascular research groups with extensive research programs.

The Future Leader Fellowship program aims to support the best and brightest in cardiovascular research. It supports aspiring leaders who are developing independence and their own research portfolio, through to established leaders of cardiovascular research groups with extensive research programs.

The Postdoctoral Fellowship program is aimed at early career researchers and seeks to identify the strongest emerging Australian talent in cardiovascular research who have just completed or are nearing completion of their PhD studies. Successful Postdoctoral Fellows will have a demonstrated strong track record during their PhD and will be working towards gaining recognition for expertise in their research area.

The Postgraduate Scholarship provides funding to support successful applicants to attain a research-based postgraduate degree (Doctor of Philosophy or Master’s Degree by Research). The scholarship will support outstanding graduates early in their careers so they can be trained to conduct cardiovascular research that is internationally competitive.

This First Nations CVD Grant aims to support projects focused on producing high-impact improvements in cardiovascular health among First Nations people. It also includes funding for an introductory research role specifically for a First Nations individual, who will be mentored by the project's Chief Investigator. The goal is to encourage and sustain First Nations researchers within the cardiovascular health research community.

The purpose of the Vanguard Grant is to provide funding to test the feasibility of innovative concepts in clinical, public health and/or health services (including clinical service delivery) or biomedical research which may lead to larger, more rigorous studies in the future. Both pilot studies and ‘stand-alone’ projects will be considered. These projects are expected to produce tangible outcomes with the potential to further advance preclinical research technology or improve cardiovascular health.

The purpose of the Collaboration and Exchange Grant is to enable Heart Foundation funded Fellows and Scholars to visit research facilities in Australia or overseas to collaborate and exchange innovation and knowledge. This grant aims to strengthen the recipient’s research capacity.

Dr Shirley E Freeman AM (1924 - 2014) was the first female to receive funding from the Heart Foundation, receiving £1250 in 1961 for her project “Mechanisms of respiratory control in cardiac muscle”. Her work with Dr Paul Fantl on the mechanism of blood clotting led to the development of warfarin.

This award was established in 2021 and is given to the two most innovative female fellowships. This year the award has been offered to:

Dr Elizabeth Paratz, St Vincents Institute of Medical Research, 2024 Postdoctoral Fellowship

Implementing the globally-leading CODEX registry to drive new insights into sudden cardiac death

Dr Amy Baxter, La Trobe University, 2024 Future Leader Fellowship

Boosting efferocytosis in vascular diseases to promote tissue repair

In memory of Professor Paul Korner, who passed away in 2012, this award is in appreciation of the positive impact his work in tackling cardiovascular disease had on many lives.

This award was established in 2012 and is given to the two most innovative male fellowships. This year the award has been offered to:

Dr Ashley Meakin, University of South Australia, 2024 Postdoctoral Fellowship

Understanding and targeting the maternal-placental-fetal androgen signalling axis to reduce maternal and offspring CVD risk in pregnancies complicated by excess androgens

Dr Jarmon Lees, St Vincents Institute of Medical Research, 2024 Future Leader Fellowship

Translating new therapies for Friedreich ataxia heart disease

In memory of Mr. Ross Hohnen AM, OBE who passed away in 2003, the Heart Foundation awards the “Ross Hohnen Award recognising Research Excellence” to encourage innovation in cardiovascular research. Ross Hohnen was instrumental in establishing the Heart Foundation in 1959.

This year the award recognises the highest ranked one-year Vanguard Grant application, and has been offered to:

Associate Professor Jonathon Fanning, The University of Queensland

Surgery-related Heart Injury Evaluation: Limiting Damage (SHIELD) with dual antiplatelet therapy and dapagliflozin – a pilot study