Funding to tackle growing heart disease among children
29 Apr 2021 | 3 mins
Scientists at The University of Western Australia and Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute have been awarded $500,000 to develop new treatments for the world’s leading cause of cardiac death among children.
The funding boost from global biotechnology company CSL will be used to further research into hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – also known as ‘big heart syndrome’ – which affects children between five and 15 years old.
“Right now, we have no way of preventing or reversing damage to the heart. All we can do is alleviate the symptoms.”
Professor Livia Hool
Professor Livia Hool, from UWA’s School of Human Sciences, said the award would help build on previous breakthrough discoveries and could prevent and even reverse the damage of the inherited disease, which causes the heart to become dangerously large.
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Most heart research has been into men but heart disease kills about five times more women than breast cancer. An international study looking at large numbers of genes working together found that women present their own genetic patterns and it has major implications for prevention and treatment.
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I ve had a heart attack or take blood thinners: Can I get the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine?
Posted Yesterday at 7:00pm
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updated Yesterday at 9:56pm
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AprApril 2021 at 9:56pm
Experts say the majority of people who have a history of heart disease should be vaccinated.
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Australians over the age of 50 who have previously had a heart attack are still safe to get the AstraZeneca vaccine, experts say.
Key points:
People who have had a heart attack are at increased risk of serious harm or death from COVID-19
The type of blood clots observed in people who have had AstraZeneca is different to typical clots