RESEARCH IMPACT: 32 YEARS OF UNDERSTANDING, DIAGNOSING, TREATING & PREVENTING THE ONSET OF HEART DISEASE
With
Professor Jason Kovacic
CEO & Institute Director,
Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute &
Practicing Clinical Cardiologist, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney Australia &
Professor of Medicine
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States
RESEARCH IMPACT
Filmed in Sydney, Australia | October 2026
The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute is dedicated to finding cures for cardiovascular disease through world-class and cutting-edge medical research.
The Institute’s team seeks to discover better ways of understanding, diagnosing, treating, and preventing the onset of heart disease. It is committed to ensuring its research breakthroughs are rapidly translated into advances in clinical care.
The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute was founded in 1994 in honour of the legendary heart transplant surgeon Dr Victor Chang AC. In 1996, the late Diana, Princess of Wales, officially opened the institute in Sydney, Australia.
Beginning with just two scientists, it has more than 250 scientists, doctors, and staff working together across 26 laboratories nationwide. It is renowned for the quality of its scientific discoveries worldwide.
In 2022, the Institute expanded its national footprint by establishing a new heart disease research hub in partnership with The University of Western Australia and in 2025 announced a new collaboration with the Perth-based Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. It has also established hubs in South Western Sydney and Melbourne. This is allowing researchers and scientists to accelerate life-saving discoveries that benefit all Australians and deliver international impact.
The Institute is also a proud partner of the St Vincent’s Sydney Health Innovation Precinct – comprised of St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, St Vincent’s Private Hospital Sydney and St Vincent’s Clinic.
In this interview on the impact of research undertaken by the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Professor Jason Kovacic talks about the following studies:
- Funnel web spider venom to develop world’s first cardiac protective drug for heart transplants and heart attacks https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.054360
- Discovery and role of PHACTR1 gene in vascular diseases including spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2018.09.085
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict disease progression & better outcomes of aortic stenosis https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1153814
Source: Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute website
-
Novel therapies & next-gen medical devices in cardiovascular & vascular disease management
Professor Shirley Jansen AM is a distinguished vascular and endovascular surgeon whose career spans clinical leadership, academic excellence, and pioneering research. She currently holds the Lawrence-Brown Chair of Vascular Surgery at Curtin University’s School of Population Health and serves as Head of the Department of Vascular Surgery at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, a role she has held since 2015. In addition, she is the Director of the Heart & Vascular Research Institute at the Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research. Her early career was marked by prestigious fellowships, including a British Heart Foundation Research Fellowship (1996), and multiple international travelling fellowships from leading surgical societies and industry sponsors between 2001 and 2002.
-
Blister management and impact on firefighters
David Burns, a Senior Paramedic with LifeAid, a private paramedicine company in Victoria and, has a diverse background in healthcare. He began his career as a registered nurse, progressing to critical care nursing specialising in liver transplants and cardiovascular surgery.
At the Australasian College of Paramedicine International Conference, David presented research focused on the foot care of firefighters during prolonged bushfire campaigns. During the 2019-2020 bushfires, over 10,000 firefighters sought care, with nearly 50% requiring attention for foot-related issues. David emphasised that inadequate foot care could bench firefighters for up to 10 days, diminishing their ability to protect communities and critical infrastructure. Recognising the economic benefits of prioritising firefighter health, David advocates that ensuring their well-being allows communities to recover effectively and enhances safety for all involved in firefighting efforts.
-
Women’s health, child health & medical education in General Practice
Dr Ramya Raman is a specialist general practitioner, practice owner, medical educator and supervisor for RACGP Academic Registrars, with research interests spanning women’s health, primary care, workforce development and medical education. Her work is grounded in the realities of contemporary general practice, with a focus on translating evidence into clinical care, strengthening preventive health approaches and improving outcomes for patients and communities.
