Industry partnership critical for heart research

Working across the University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Professor Prash Sanders leads a team of researchers and clinicians developing innovative solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Atrial fibrillation is a type of heart rhythm disorder which affects thousands of Australians, causing a fast and irregular heartbeat that can eventually lead to a stroke. Research from Professor Sanders’ team has shown that hospitalisations related to atrial fibrillation are steadily increasing – faster than other cardiovascular conditions like heart attacks.

“We’ve shown that AF is becoming more prevalent in our communities, leading to more hospitalisations and more serious complications like stroke,” explained  Professor Sanders.

“We need better ways of identifying and treating AF so we can keep people out of hospital and maintaining a high quality of life.”

The multi-disciplinary team at the Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders study is at the forefront of developing new and innovative approaches for atrial fibrillation, performing research from the laboratory all the way through to clinical trials. This essential research ensures that cardiologists have access to the best possible treatments and management strategies for patients with AF.

Critical for this progress is support from industry partners like Medtronic, a leading healthcare technology company working to advance medical treatments for  many conditions, including heart rhythm disorders.

“Medtronic is a mission-driven company and our corporate values closely align with the Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders. Our mutual commitment to improving the lives of patients has been the foundation of our relationship for over a decade,” said Bradley Watson, a representative of Medtronic.

“We’ve brought a number of clinical trials to the University of Adelaide through the Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, including the first in human implant of a  percutaneous injectable loop recorder in 2013, which provided an opportunity to better understand the capability of this technology in identifying episodes of atrial fibrillation and potential stroke prevention.”

Together, Professor Sanders’ team at the Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders and Medtronic are creating new solutions for AF patients, and delivering insights into newly-developed technology to make it accessible to patients sooner.

This collaboration is essential for our group – Medtronic is an essential industry partner that allows us to progress our fundamental work and get solutions out to patients as soon as possible.”Professor Sanders