Heart failure researcher named 2018 rising star

Wednesday, 7 November 2018

Associate Professor Aaron Sverdlov has been recognised with the 2018 Ministerial Award for Rising Stars in Cardiovascular Research.

Associate Professor Aaron Sverdlov

The Director of Heart Failure at the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute received the accolade at the NSW Cardiovascular Research Network (CVRN) annual ‘State of the Heart’ Showcase in Sydney on 7 November. The award recognises his research work in the area of heart failure and cardio-oncology (cardiovascular complications of cancer therapy).

Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research, The Hon Brad Hazzard MP, presented the award to Associate Professor Sverdlov, the first winner outside of a Sydney-based institution.

CVRN’s annual ‘State of the Heart’ Showcase, now in its ninth year, provides an opportunity to acknowledge NSW researchers who are working tirelessly to combat cardiovascular disease – a major cause of death in NSW and nationwide.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, cardiovascular disease took the lives of 43,477 Australians in 2017.

A focus of Associate Professor Sverdlov’s research is heart failure. He has received Heart Foundation research funding to investigate mechanisms underlying heart failure due to obesity; novel biomarkers for early detection of cardiac abnormalities; and whether an intensive weight-loss program leads to improved outcomes in heart failure patients.

Associate Professor Sverdlov is also the Clinical Lead – Heart Failure and Cardio-oncology at Hunter New England Local Health District.

University of Newcastle Associate Professor Doan Ngo, who researches with A/Prof Sverdlov, was also a finalist for the award.

About the NSW Cardiovascular Research Network

The NSW CVRN is a collaboration that brings together the state’s most eminent researchers in the field of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. The Heart Foundation facilitated the establishment of the network with the support of NSW Health. It currently comprises 13 umbrella organisations and over 50 affiliated research institutions, which are committed to cardiovascular research and supporting the research workforce in NSW.


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