Research Highlights

“A career in research really gives you a sense of purpose and drive. While it can be a long and difficult path, every day you can feel satisfied that the work you do is for the greater good. And that in itself is one of the most rewarding experiences,” says Richard Tan, PhD candidate with the Applied Materials Group at HRI.

A breakthrough by HRI scientists could soon protect tens of thousands of Australians with diabetes from killer heart disease and stroke.

The Heart Research Institute is behind the invention of an innovative bio-material patch that can be loaded with a patient’s stem cells to help breathe life into dead tissue following a stroke or heart attack, dramatically improving a patient’s chance of full recovery.

Breakthrough findings on the biological functions and translational importance of plasminogen activation and extracellular proteolysis – key molecules and chemical pathways in a vast number of biological processes – were presented at the recent Plasminogen Activation and Extracellular Proteolysis Gordon Research Seminar.

Scientists at Heart Research Institute have engineered multifunctional nanoparticles that can effectively work as ‘nanocarriers’, hauling a wide range of molecules including drugs or genetic material, to exactly where it needs to go in the body. These super-charged nanoparticles with truck-like power and GPS-style precision are poised to change the way medication is delivered to sick Australians.