To tackle the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in Tasmania the University of Tasmania’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research has launched a new Cardiovascular Research Flagship.
This Flagship will build on the success and impactful research of the Multiple Sclerosis Research Flagship which has been super charging MS research at Menzies since 2017.
Cardiovascular diseases are those of the heart, brain and vascular system and include stroke and heart disease.
The Director of the Menzies Institute, Professor Tracey Dickson, said the Flagships aim is to work collaboratively with health professionals, policy makers and the community to develop, implement and evaluate interventions to improve the cardiovascular health of Tasmanians.
“There are over 30,000 Tasmanians living with the ongoing effects of heart disease or stroke. We have a 13% higher prevalence of heart disease and a 25% higher prevalence of stroke than the national average.”
“Community consultation identified cardiovascular health as a priority for the Tasmanian community and we are recruiting a consumer and community reference committee to educate and guide our research.”
Compared to national averages, Tasmanians are more likely to smoke, have high blood pressure and be overweight. Nationally, more than 80 percent of adults do not meet physical activity guidelines and the same can be said for Tasmanians.
Professor Seana Gall will be the academic lead, with Menzies cardiovascular researchers being consistently high performing in the area attracting funding, engagement and significant publications in prominent medical journals.
There are two focuses for the Flagship:
- Reducing cardiovascular risk – Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease for all Tasmanians.
- Improving cardiovascular outcomes – Improving outcomes for people that have cardiovascular disease.