- About
- People
- Projects
- Key Publications
- Funding
- Collaborations
The Translational Vascular Function Research Collaborative undertakes basic, clinical and epidemiological studies into cardiovascular disorders with the objective of improving the health of these patients. Currently the group focuses upon coronary heart disease and peripheral artery disease, although many principles are applicable to other vascular disorders. We aim to conduct interdisciplinary research using a collaborative approach – with results being directly integrated into clinical practice where possible. The research group includes both physicians and medical scientists located at the Basil Hetzel Institute, The University of Adelaide Medical School and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The integrative nature of the group provides a unique opportunity to ensure that innovations are translated from bench to bedside to health outcome, as well as the reverse.
We welcome new students to join our group where they can be involved in a diverse range of projects with diverse opportunities. We offer exceptional supervising and mentoring, and provide opportunities for students to participate in vacation research electives, Honours or PhD programs. Our projects, available through the University of Adelaide, include:
- innovative research studies harnessing knowledge from basic science to those identify new approaches to prevent, diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease, particularly in the emerging field of coronary microvascular dysfunction.
- a strong focus on cardiovascular health care and patient outcomes with projects to ensure new treatments and research knowledge assist the patient and are implemented correctly.
- the opportunity to improve health care quality by helping clinicians in their health-care decision making and strengthening the patient-clinician relationship.
For more detailed information visit Prof John Beltrame’s Researcher Profile page.
Researchers
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Professor John Beltrame
Position: Lead Researcher
Theme: Cardiovascular Disease
Phone: +61 8 8222 6740
Email: [email protected]
Profile: View profile
UofA: John Beltrame
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Dr Peter Zalewski
Position: Senior Medical Scientist
Theme: Cardiovascular Disease
Email: [email protected]
Profile: View profile
UoA: Peter Zalewski
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Associate Professor Rosanna Tavella
Position: Clinical Data Manager
Theme: Cardiovascular Disease
Phone: +61 8 8133 4011
Email: [email protected]
Profile: View profile
Research Gate: Rosanna Tavella
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Associate Professor Chris Zeitz
Position: Clinical Director
Theme: Cardiovascular Disease
Email: [email protected]
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Dr Sivabaskari (Tharshy) Pasupathy
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Theme: Cardiovascular Disease
Phone: +61 8 8222 7742
Email: [email protected]
Profile: View profile
UoA: Tharshy Pasupathy
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Dr Clementine Labrosciano
Position: Postdoctoral Research Coordinator
Theme: Cardiovascular Disease
Phone: +61 8 8222 7719
Email: [email protected]
Profile: View profile
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Kleoathena Georgiadis
Position: Research Assistant
Theme: Cardiovascular Disease
Email: [email protected]
Profile: View profile
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Cheyenne Gronthos
Position: Research Assistant
Theme: Cardiovascular Disease
Email: [email protected]
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Rachel Jakobczak
Position: Research Assistant
Theme: Cardiovascular Disease
Email: [email protected]
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Slawomir Dziemborowicz
Position: Research Assistant
Theme: Cardiovascular Disease
Email: [email protected]
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Students
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Sarena La
Position: Student
Theme: Cardiovascular Disease
Email: [email protected]
Profile: View profile
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Dr Adeel Khoja
Position: Student
Theme: Cardiovascular Disease
Email: [email protected]
Profile: View profile
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Alex Minopoulos
Position: Student
Theme: Cardiovascular Disease
Email: [email protected]
Profile: View profile
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Olivia Girolamo
Position: Student
Theme: Cardiovascular Disease
Email: [email protected]
Profile: View profile
Additional Research Staff Members
Additional staff members are listed in the BHI Research Report 2021
Student Alumni (since 2016)
| Name | Degree | Year Awarded | Thesis title | Supervisors | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Surman* | PhD, The University of Adelaide | 2022 | A journey through the thoracic aorta: From root to arch | Prof John Beltrame & Dr Michael Worthington | The Hospital Research Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship |
| Sarena La | First Class Honours, The University of Adelaide | 2020 | Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA) Patients Undergoing Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Dr Rosanna Tavella & Dr Sivabaskari Pasupathy | The Hospital Research Foundation Honours Scholarship |
| Clementine Labrosciano | PhD, The University of Adelaide. Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence. | 2020 | Readmissions in Australian Patients with Cardiovascular Disease | Prof John Beltrame & Dr Rosanna Tavella | Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Divisional Scholarship, The University of Adelaide |
| Aakriti Lath | First Class Honours, The University of Adelaide | 2019 | Gender differences in Post Myocardial Infarction Angina | Dr Rosanna Tavella, Professor John Beltrame | The Hospital Research Foundation Honours Scholarship |
| Victor Lamin | PhD, The University of Adelaide | 2017 | Molecular mechanisms of sex-differences in vascular reactivity of human internal mammary artery | Prof John Beltrame & Dr David Wilson | International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS, tuition fees) and an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) |
| Tharshy Pasupathy | PhD, The University of Adelaide | 2016 | Novel clinical insights into myocardial infarction | Prof John Beltrame & Dr Rosanna Tavella | Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) |
| * indicates not based at the BHI, TQEH | |||||
Project Team: Beltrame J , Labrosciano C
Please also refer to the financial year Publications Lists
Beltrame JF, Crea F, Kaski JC, Ogawa H, Ong P, Sechtem U, Shimokawa H, Bairey Merz CN; Coronary Vasomotion Disorders International Study Group (COVADIS). International standardization of diagnostic criteria for vasospastic angina. Eur Heart J; 2015. Aug 4. pii: ehv351. [Epub ahead of print]
McNamara RL, Spatz ES, Kelley TA, Stowell CJ, Beltrame J, Heidenreich P, Tresserras R, Jernberg T, Chua T, Morgan L, Panigrahi B, Rosas Ruiz A, Rumsfeld JS, Sadwin L, Schoeberl M, Shahian D, Weston C, Yeh R, Lewin . Standardized Outcome Measurement for Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: Consensus From the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM). J Am Heart Assoc; 2015. 4(5): e001767.
Pasupathy S, Air T, Dreyer RP, Tavella R, Beltrame JF. Systematic review of patients presenting with suspected myocardial infarction and nonobstructive coronary arteries. Circulation; 2015. 131(10):861-70.
Beltrame JF, Weekes AJ, Morgan C, Tavella R, Spertus JA. The prevalence of weekly angina among patients with chronic stable angina in primary care practices: The Coronary Artery Disease in General Practice (CADENCE) Study. Arch Intern Med; 2009.169(16): 1491-9.
Beltrame JF, Turner SP, Leslie SL, Solomon P, Freedman SB, Horowitz JD. The angiographic and clinical benefits of mibefradil in the coronary slow flow phenomenon. J Am Coll Cardiol; 2004. 44(1): 57-62.
Funding since 2010
| Chief Investigators | Granting body | Project Title | Type of Grant | Total Grant Amount | Funding Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Condina M, Klingler-Hoffman M, Plush S, Hoffman P, Licari G, Pasupathy S, Tavella R, Beltrame J | University of South Australia | Is it dangerous to be different? Discovering mechanisms of patients with Myocardial Infarction with nonobstructive Coronay Arteries (MINOCA) | Research Themes Investment Scheme (RTIS) | $38,012 | 2020 |
| Beltrame JF, Tavella R, Zeitz C, Spertus J, Arstall M, Worthley M, Chew D | NHMRC (#1150036) | Value-Based Healthcare in Elective Coronary Stenting | Partnership Grant | $1,220,111 | 2018 - 2021 |
| Zalewski P, Hodge S, Beltrame J, Murgia C, Tavella R | NHMRC (#1138917) | Role for Zinc and ZIP2 in the action of nitric oxide and in vascular protection against cigarette smoke and cardiovascular disease | Project Grant | $685,941 | 2018 - 2020 |
| Pasupathy S | National Heart Foundation - SA Division | Support for MINOCA Data Collection in the Coronary Angiogram Database of South Australia (CADOSA) | Tom Simpson Trust Fund Equipment Grant | $15,000 | 2019 |
| Appleton S, Adams R, Beltrame J | The Hospital Research Foundation | Broken Sleep - Broken Heart? Longitudinal follow-up of cardiovascular and cognitive outcomes in middle aged and older men in North-West-Adelaide | Project Grant | $147,000 | 2018 - 2019 |
| Dreyer R | NHMRC (#1111039) | Sex Differences in Long-Term Outcomes of Young Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction | Sidney Sax Public Health Early Career Fellowship (Overseas) | $111,300 pa | 2016 - 2019 |
| Beltrame J, Zeitz C, Lindahl B | The Hospital Research Foundation (THRF) | Potential mechanisms and treatment of post-infarct angina in patients with Myocardial Infarction with Non Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA) | Basil Hetzel Translational Grant | $750,000 | 2017 - 2020 |
| Beltrame JF | The University of Adelaide | The anti-anginal benefits of Zibotentan in the Coronary Slow Flow Phenomenon (CSFP) | Commercial Accelerator Scheme (CAS) Project | $87,000 | 2017 - 2018 |
| Hodge S, Zalewski P, Roscioli E | NHMRC (#1099040) | Exploiting increased autophagy in bronchial epithelial cells: a new therapeutic approach for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | Project Grant | $745,390 | 2016 - 2018 |
| Adams R, Appleton SL, McEvoy RD, Beltrame J | Heart Foundation | Cardiovascular impacts of obstructive sleep apnea in men | Vanguard | $75,000 | 2017 |
| Tavella R, Beltrame JF, Zeitz C, Ranasinghe I | Heart Foundation | EVALuation of Appropriate UsE of Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention - Value of PCI | Vanguard | $75,000 | 2017 |
| Tavella R | Heart Foundation (Tom Simpson Trust Fund) | Coronary Angiogram Database of South Australia (CADOSA) Biobank | Equipment Grant | $14,030 | 2017 |
| Zalewski P, Hodge S, Beltrame J, Murgia C, Tavella R | The University of Adelaide | Endothelia zinc deficiency as a previously unrecognized factor linked to cardiovascular disease risk factors | Investment for Success NHMRC near-miss grant | $9,992 | 2017 |
| Beltrame JF, Zeitz CJ, Worthley MI, Arstall MA, Tavella R | Astra Zeneca: ESR-14-10465 | Ticagrelor In Coronary microvascular dysfunction (TIC) Program: Anti-anginal effficacy in primary coronary microvascular disorders | Project Grant | $300,000 | 2016 - 2017 |
| Ranasinghe I, Beltrame J, Tavella R, Zeitz C, Mazumdar S, Cooper B | HCF Research Foundation: IRUA2015149 | Reducing unwarranted variation in early complications after cardiac pacemaker and defibrillator implantation among Australian hospitals | Project Grant | $250,000 | 2016 - 2017 |
| Beltrame JF, Zeitz CJ, Tavella R, Worthley MI | NHMRC (#1062331) | The ACCESS Project -Assessment of Coronary artery disease using Ct Effectively for Stable Symptoms | Partnership Grant | $1,564,165 | 2013 - 2017 |
| Beltrame JF, Elliott A, Rajopadhyaya K, Fitridge R | The Hospital Research Foundation (THRF) | Exercise Therapy for the Management of the Coronary Slow Flow Phenomenon | $300,000 | 2014 - 2015 | |
| Beltrame J, Worthley S, Chew D | South Australian Cardiovascular Research Development | Chronic Refractory Angina - Defining its Characteristics and Exploring Endothelin Blockade as a New Potential Therapy | Program Grant | $1,327,652 | 2011 - 2014 |
| Horowitz J, Beltrame J, Morris R, Fitridge R, Zeitz C, Wilson DP, Sallustio B, Chirkov Y, Kennedy J, Cowled P | The Hospital Research Foundation (THRF) | TQEH Vascular Disease and Therapeutics Research Group: towards improved outcomes for vascular diseases | Program Grant | $1,040,000 | 2009 - 2014 |
| Tavella R | National Heart Foundation Tom Simpson Trust Fund | The Coronary Angiogram Database of South Australia (CADOSA) Biobank | Equipment Grant | $12,500 | 2014 |
| Beltrame JF, Zeitz CJ, Worthley MI, Arstall MA, Tavella R | Astra Zeneca: ESR-14-10465 | Ticagrelor In Coronary microvascular dysfunction (TIC) Program | $368,641 | 2014 | |
| Beltrame JF, Zeitz CJ, Worthley MI, Arstall MA | University of Adelaide, Discipline of Medicine | The Coronary Angiogram Database of South Australia (CADOSA) Biobank | Equipment Grant | $10,000 | 2013 |
please also refer to the BHI Research Report 2020
| Collaborator | Position | Institution | City | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Margaret Arstall | Director of Cardiology | Lyell McEwin Hospital, NALHN | Adelaide | Australia |
| James Edwards, Robert Stuklis, Fabiano Viana, Michael Worthington | Cardio Thoracic Surgical Unit (CTSU) | Royal Adelaide Hospital | Adelaide | Australia |
| Associate Professor Peter Psaltis | Co-Director Vascular Research Centre, Heart Health | SAHMRI | Adelaide | Australia |
| Dr Nathan Watson-Haigh | Acting Head, Bioinformatics | South Australian Genomics Centre | Adelaide | Australia |
| Cindy McCall | Consumer Representative | International Heart Spasms Alliance | Brisbane | Australia |
| Associate Professor Kuljit Singh | Interventional Cardiologist | Gold Coast Hospital | Gold Coast, Queensland | Australia |
| Professor Jamie Layland | Director of Cardiovascular Research | Peninsula Health, Frankston, Monash University | Melbourne | Australia |
| Dr Stuart Turner | Consultant Cardiologist | John Hunter Hospital | Newcastle, NSW | Australia |
| Dr Adil Rajwani, Dr Jon Spiro | Consultant Cardiologist, Interventional Cardiologist | Royal Perth Hospital | Perth | Australia |
| Dr Tom Ford | Interventional Cardiologist | Gosford Public Hospital, NSW Health | Sydney | Australia |
| Professor Andy Yong | Director of Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory | Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Macquarie University, University of Sydney | Sydney | Australia |
| Professor Bertil Lindahl | Professor of Cardiology | Uppsala University Hospital | Uppsala | Sweden |
| Professor John Spertus | Professor of Medicine & Director of Education and Cardiovascular Outcomes Research | Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, University of Missouri | Kansas City | USA |
| Professor C. Noel Bairey Merz | Medical Director | Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre | Los Angeles | USA |
