A pioneering research project addressing a devastating heart condition has received funding recognition, with NSW Cardiovascular Research Network awarding its inaugural Rural, Regional, Remote Project Grant to Dr Rukshan Rafeek of the University of New England in Armidale.

Dr Rafeek, working within the UNE program on Immune Complications of Post-Streptococcal Complications, is spearheading innovative research to develop new treatment options for acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease through cost-effective repurposed small molecule immunomodulators.

ARF, triggered by Strep A bacterial infections, affects more than 40 million people globally and causes more than 300,000 deaths annually.

In Australia, about 7200 people are living with this chronic heart condition and face a reduction in life expectancy of 20-30 years.

“This grant will give us the opportunity to trial novel combinations of RSMIs in our ARF/RHD laboratory model and provide much-needed preliminary data to obtain further funding for more in-depth studies and clinical trials,” Dr Rafeek said.

The multidisciplinary research team includes Dr Robert Hart, James Dries, Associate Professor Sally Bristow, Associate Professor Phillip Tully, and Professor Natkunam Ketheesan.

“The grant will also support a survey among front-line healthcare professionals and patients about the practicality of current and proposed treatments for ARF/RHD in Northern NSW,” Associate Professor Sally Bristow said.

The multidisciplinary research team includes (from left) Professor Natkunam Ketheesan, Dr Rukshan Rafeek, Associate Professor Sally Bristow, Dr Robert Hart, and James Dries. Not pictured is Associate Professor Phillip Tully.

Professor Ketheesan commended Dr Rafeek’s achievement.

“Obtaining a prestigious grant as Lead Investigator within two years of completing his PhD is a significant achievement. The grant will certainly enhance the pre-clinical research into ARF/RHD conducted at UNE,” he said.