CCRE in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease (2007-2012)
Abstract
Metabolic disorders related to the modern lifestyle, including inactivity, obesity, the metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes, are responsible for a major proportion of the disease burden in Australia. Current treatment strategies are expensive and because they are directed at end-organ damage (heart failure, heart attacks etc), rather ineffective. This multispecialty, multidisciplinary group will undertake a series of unique studies aimed at understanding and preventing early cardiovascular complications of these metabolic conditions. Sensitive new cardiovascular imaging techniques will be used to detect preclinical abnormalities in the structure, function and metabolism of the heart and vasculature, facilitating the development of new strategies of exercise and lifestyle intervention to prevent these complications. While built on the successful current CCRE in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, including multidisciplinary clinical research training, the new application involves major new directions in the interface between the liver and metabolic syndrome, and strategies for community-based prevention programs. The nursing intervention model, which will focus on workforce models of care, is especially important. The results of this study will provide information to address the need for different nursing models sought by the recent Productivity Commission Report.
