Critical funding for heart failure research
Professor Henry Krum
The hundreds of thousands of Australians who suffer from heart failure will benefit from the awarding of a NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship to one of the country's leading cardiovascular experts.
Professor Henry Krum, director of Monash University's Centre of Cardiovascular Research and Education in Therapeutics, this week received an Achievement Award - Top Ranked Practitioner Fellowship at the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) 75th Anniversary Symposium in Canberra.
Further adding to the University's success, researcher Dr Andreas Fouras was announced as the top-ranked Career Development Fellow in his field at the Research for a Healthy Future symposium.
Professor Krum is a recognised leader in the development of novel drug therapies for heart failure, and will use the NHMRC grant to evaluate treatments for patients at high-risk for future development of heart failure, examine the role of cancer drugs in causing the condition, and to continue his research into the effect of heart failure on the kidney.
The Practitioner Fellowships Scheme are awarded to the top 10 per cent of active clinicians and public health professionals to undertake research that is linked to their practice.
Professor Krum was recognised for his sustained track record of significant research and his leadership in the field. In addition to his research role at Monash, he is former president of the Asian Pacific Society of heart Failure, and a physician at the Alfred Hospital.
"I want to thank the NHMRC for granting me this Fellowship," Professor Krum said.
"Heart failure continues to restrict the lives of hundreds of thousands of Australians, and to be a major burden on the health system.
"The mortality rate remains unacceptably high, so there is an urgent need to develop new treatment approaches."
Dr Fouras is a mechanical engineer and research leader of the Monash Laboratory for Dynamic Imaging with the Faculty of Engineering. His research focuses on the development of technology specifically for the in-vivo imaging of dynamic processes, such as four-dimensional imaging of the lung during breathing.
He said he hoped that an Engineer receiving the NHMRC award would encourage other engineers and physical scientists to apply their skills to medical research.
"This award will allow me to focus completely on medical research, allowing me to bring new perspectives to old problems," Dr Fouras said.