Christchurch team at forefront of heart research

Christchurch team continues at forefront of international heart research

As it is Heart Week (February 11-17) I would like to draw your attention to the heart research being carried out by the University of Otago's Christchurch Cardioendocrine Research Group.

The 45 member CCERG research team has established an international reputation over the last 15 years for its innovative research into how hormones produced by the heart under stress actually work, and how they can be used to combat heart failure and heart attack.

This research has been described as a 'major medical advance' by international medical journals and has resulted in the development of blood tests which are now used internationally in predicting,diagnosing and managing heart failure/attack. Heart conditions hospitalise 30,000 people a year in NZ, and millions overseas. The annual cost of cardiac care world-wide runs to billions of dollars.

The Cardioendocrine Research Group is led by cardiologist Professor Mark Richards, who also holds the National Heart Foundation Chair in Cardiovascular Studies.

For further information on the work of the CCERG please contact Professor Mark Richards on 03 364 1117, mark.richards@cdhb.govt.nz, or visit www.chmeds.ac.nz/research/cardioen/index.htm

This research is funded by the National Heart Foundation and the Health Research Council.

ENDS

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