State of the Heart 2023
State of the Heart 2023 Event Wrap
8 May 2023
The 2023 State of the Heart Dinner at Bistro Guillaume was a huge success, bringing together the brightest minds in heart research with the Institute’s generous partners and supporters.
Robert Byrne, Ariane Gallop, Susannah Rooney, Elizabeth Gaines, Professor Livia Hool, Dr Lee Nedkoff, Andrea Dawber and Professor Jason Kovacic at State of the Heart 2023
The annual event held in Perth marked the extraordinary achievements and expansion of the Institute’s hub at the University of Western Australia.
Hosts Professor Jason Kovacic, the Institute’s newest board member Elizabeth Gaines and speakers Professor Livia Hool and Dr Lee Nedkoff shared the impact of latest scientific breakthroughs with the WA philanthropic community.
The Institute’s Executive Director Professor Kovacic spoke about VCCRI’s growing national footprint. He also outlined the integral role our hub in Western Australia has played in providing a blueprint for expansion in other states. An expansion made possible due to the support of individuals, foundations and corporates in Western Australia.
Professor Livia Hool, the Wesfarmers, UWA-VCCRI Chair in Cardiovascular Research, spoke about next chapter for the growing hub. She revealed how over the next five years the Institute plans to bring on board more world-leading faculty heads to lead new heart disease research streams in Perth and build a new state of the art space at the University of Western Australia.
Epidemiologist Dr Lee Nedkoff revealed how accessing and analysing data is costly and time-consuming and the data is often fragmented because Australia’s health system straddles state and Commonwealth governments.
Incredibly she also told the gathered audience that there is still not an accurate picture of the number of people living with coronary heart disease in Australia. A situation Dr Nedkoff and her team of eight researchers are determined to fix.
Ms Gaines spoke movingly about her personal family connection to heart disease and highlighted the need for more awareness of women and heart disease.
It was fantastic to see so many of our wonderful partners in attendance including Woodside Energy, Wesfarmers, The McCusker Foundation, Golden Group, Telethon Trust, McIntyre Foundation, the Simon Lee Foundation and the Group of Hearts who have supported our bold vision to build a world-class cardiovascular hub in Perth.
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For all media enquiries and interview requests, please contact:
Julia Timms
Head, Media & Communications
j.timms@victorchang.edu.au
0457 517 355
Acknowledgement of Country
The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
