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Background information
The Frontiers of Vascular Medicine conference brings together leaders in research on blood vessel diseases. In this group belongs angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Collectively they represent the number one cause of death world-wide including third world countries with an increasing socio-economic financial burden. How these diseases develop is insufficiently understood; consequently, only symptoms, such as elevated blood pressure, rather than causes of diseases can be treated. Moreover, patients at risk are identified with poor precision and the individual treatment success cannot be monitored at present. World-wide, researchers therefore aim at identifying the genes and molecules responsible for these vascular diseases in order to identify patients at risk – ideally before any symptoms become apparent – and subsequently to treat those patients to prevent disease outbreak or progression with unprecedented precision. Other breakthroughs include the role of free radicals in the blood vessel wall and new drugs that may replace nitroglycerin as an emergency medication. Researchers in Germany, the USA and Australia are leaders in this research field. In order to become more efficient and successful, teamwork is the key. “No single researcher is more successful than highly supportive and networked collaborative groups and Centres”, says Professor Harald Schmidt, recently recruited from Germany, heading the Department of Pharmacology at Monash University and currently setting up a Centre for Vascular Health. It’s an exciting development for Monash’s biomedical research which has recently received, ranking as the number one in Australia and amongst the top 30ies in the world”, says Professor Warwick Anderson, co-organizer and Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences at Monash. Schmidt anticipates also a boost for Victorian biotechnology which is chronically lacking in the presence of major pharmaceutical activities. We have to become so good at an international level that companies want to come here because they are afraid of missing exciting opportunities. And he plans a Centre of Excellence for Vascular health (Prevention and Regenerative Medicine) funded by major research council and charities; bi- and international links to exchange and train the best young scientists and to install major program grants and centres of excellence between the countries. For information contact Diane Squires in the Media Communications Office on 0417 603 400. |
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