Research
Our Team
With the support of our partner organisations, we aim to transform the care of individuals and families affected by sudden cardiac arrest
Principal Investigator
A/Prof Jodie Ingles
Head of the Clinical Genomics Laboratory, Garvan Institute of Medical Research and Co-Director of the Garvan Genomic and Inherited Diseases Program.
National Coordinator
Dr Laura Yeates
Senior Research Genetic Counsellor
BSc (hons) Grad Dip Gen Couns. PhD. FHGSA (Genetic Counselling)
Our Team
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Natalie Stewart
Research Genetic Counsellor
BSc BBiomed (Hons) MGenCouns
Natalie Stewart is a Research Genetic Counsellor working at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Natalie has experience in speaking with individuals and families after sudden cardiac arrest.
Jessica Finney
NSW Study Co-ordinator
Research Genetic Counsellor
BMSc MGenCouns
Jessica Finney is a research genetic counsellor at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research with both clinical and research experience in cancer and sudden cardiac arrest.
Dr Rosalind Case
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Senior Research Fellow
BSS (hons) MSSc PGGDipPsych (Clin), PhD
Dr Rosalind Case is a clinician researcher whose work is focused on the psychological wellbeing of individuals and families affected by cardiac conditions. She has been an endorsed clinical psychologist for over 15 years, working across a range of public and private mental health settings.
Advisory Committee
Prof John Atherton
Cardiologist
MBBS PhD FRACP FCSANZ FESC FHFA
Prof John Atherton is a practicing clinician and the director of Cardiology at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.
Prof Janet Bray
Professor
​PhD, Grad Dip Research Methods (Clinical trials), Post Grad Dip Applied Statistics, Post Grad Dip Applied Science (Advanced Nursing), Grad Dip Applied Science (Nursing)
Prof Janet Bray is a Professor in the Pre-hospital, Emergency, and Trauma Unit at the School of Public Health and Preventative.
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Dr Susie Cartledge
Senior Research Fellow
BN (Hons) PhD
Dr Susie Cartledge is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University. Dr Cartledge is a Registered Nurse with a background in cardiac and emergency nursing, in both metropolitan and regional areas.
A/Prof Mark Dennis
Cardiologist
MBBS(Hons) PhD
A/Prof Mark Dennis is a clinical cardiologist and researcher at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University of Sydney.
A/Prof Belinda Gray
Cardiologist
​MBBS BSc(Med) PhD FRACP FCSANZ FHRS
A/Prof Belinda Gray is a Cardiologist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, specialising in sports and genetic cardiology. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, a Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow, and chair of the CSANZ Genetic Council.
A/Prof Haris Haqqani
Cardiologist & Electrophysiologist
MBBS(Hons) PhD FRACP FSCANZ FHRS FACC
A/Prof Haris Haqqani is a Senior Staff Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist at Prince Charles Hospital and St Vincent’s Private Hospital Northside. He is also an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Queensland.
Prof Andre La Gerche
Cardiologist
MBBS, PhD
Prof Andre La Gerche is the Head of the Heart, Exercise and Research Trials (HEART) Lab, St Vincent’s Institute and Victor Chang Cardiovascular Research Institute.
Dr Sonali Munot
Research Fellow
PhD MPH (hons)
Dr Sonali Munot is a public health researcher and implementation scientist at the Westmead Applied Research Centre, The University of Sydney.
Dr Ziad Nehme
Director Centre for Research and Evaluation, Ambulance Victoria
PhD, BEmergHlth (Hons)(Paramedic)
Dr Ziad Nehme is an experienced paramedic and Director of the Centre for Research and Evaluation, Ambulance Victoria.
A/Prof Elizabeth Paratz
Cardiologist
BMeds MBBS(Hons) PhD FRACP
A/Prof Elizabeth Paratz is a cardiologist and Team Leader at St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research for a research group focussed on cardiac arrest and big data.
Dr Vimal Patel
Cardiologist
BSc (Hons) MBBS MD(Res) FRACP
Dr Patel is a Consultant Cardiologist at Fiona Stanley Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia.
Dr Kathryn Waddell-Smith
Cardiologist
MBBS PhD FRACP FCSANZ
Dr Waddell-Smith is South Australia's only Genetic Cardiologist. She works across the health system, seeing adults and children affected, and potentially affected by inherited cardiac conditions.
Prof Jamie Vandenberg
Co-Deputy Director, VCCRI
B.Sc.(Med) MBBS PhD
Prof Jamie Vandenberg is the deputy co-director and leader of the cardiac electrophysiology program of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.
Investigators
Dr Leesa Adlard
Clinical Psychologist
MA ClinPsych, D.Litt et Phil Psych
Dr Leesa Adlard has worked as Clinical Psychologist in the Cardiology Department at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital since 2019. She works within the Genetic Heart Disease Clinic, Inherited Heart disease clinic; Cardiac Rehab, Women’s Health and Congenital Heart Clinics. Leesa works with patients and their families where the therapy approach is tailored to meet their needs.
Leesa’s doctoral degree focused on Post-traumatic Growth in the aftermath of a traumatic experience.
A/Prof Clare Arnott
Cardiologist
A/Prof Clare Arnott is a Staff Specialist Cardiologist at St. Vincent's Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. She is the Pagent Family Director of Heart Lung Clinical Research at St Vincent's Hospital and the Director of Global Cardiovascular Program at the George Institute for Global Health.
A/Prof Richard Bagnall
Head, Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Centenary Institute
BSc (Hons), PhD
A/Prof Richard Bagnall earned his PhD in Genetics from King's College London, UK. He is the Head of the Centre for Cardiovascular Research at the Centenary Institute in Sydney, Australia, where he leads the Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics Group. His research focuses on uncovering the genetic causes of inherited heart disease and sudden cardiac death in young people, using computational (bioinformatics) and molecular genetics techniques.
Dr Isabel Brouwer
Forensic Pathologist
Dr Isabel Brouwer is a forensic pathologist in Sydney.
Emeritus Professor Robyn A Clark
Registered Nurse and Researcher
RN., RM., ICUCert., DipAppliSci., BN., M.Ed., PhD., ACCCN (Life Member), FACN, FAHA, FCSANZ, FESC, FAAN
Emeritis Prof Robyn Clark is a senior clinician and researcher. She holds qualifications as a Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Midwife (RM) and Critical Care Nurse (ICUCert), a Masters in Adult Education and a PhD in Health Sciences. Prof Clark has been a fully funded full-time researcher for the past 20 years.
A/Prof Gemma Figtree
Cardiologist and Clinical Researcher
A/Prof Gemma Figtree is a Cardiologist at Royal North Shore Hospital.
Dr Ari Horton
Paediatric Cardiologist & Clinical Geneticist
Dr Ari Horton is a Paediatric Cardiologist and Clinical Geneticist at the Heart Hospital in Melbourne.
Garry Jennings
National Heart Foundation
Garry Jennings works at the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
Dr Claire Lawley
Paediatric Cardiologist &
Clinician-Researcher
MBBS(Hons I), BSc(Med)Hons, PhD, FRACP
Dr Claire Lawley is a paediatric cardiologist and clinician-researcher (Sydney Children's Hospitals Network and The University of Sydney). She was her awarded her PhD in 2019. She completed clinical fellowship at The Centre for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London and Royal Brompton Hospital in inherited cardiac conditions and paediatric electrophysiology. Her clinical and research interests include investigation and management of children affected by inherited cardiac conditions, rhythm disorders and cardiac arrest.
A/Prof Han Lim
Cardiac Electrophysiologist
MBBS, PhD
A/Prof Han Lim is a cardiac electrophysiologist at Austin Health, University of Melbourne. He leads the cardiac electrophysiology (EP) service and research program at Austin Health, University of Melbourne, with a special research interest in sudden cardiac death and heart rhythm abnormalities.
Dr Kevin Ng
Cardiac Electrophysiologist
Dr Kevin Ng is a cardiac electrophysiologist based in the Gold Coast, Qld.
Prof Nicholas Patcher
Clinical Geneticist and Director, Genetic Health WA
​MBChB FRACP
Prof Nicholas Pachter is a Clinical Geneticist and Director of Genetic Health WA. His clinical and research interests are in the diagnosis and management of adult-onset genetic disorders, in particular, inherited Cardiac disorders. Dr Pachter is an adjunct Professor in the Schools of Medicine at the University of Western Australia and Curtin University.
Prof Jonathan Skinner
Paediatric Cardiologist
MB ChB, MRCP(UK), DCH, FRACP, MD.
Prof Jon Skinner is a children's cardiologist and heart rhythm specialist who trained in Europe and now works in Sydney. During 21 years in New Zealand he led the development of a national multidisciplinary team researching and managing the causes of sudden death and cardiac arrest in young people. This known as the Cardiac Inherited Disease Group. He has collaborated internationally with research programs and helped develop best practice documents in the field of inherited heart rhythm disorders and sudden death, with a particular focus on long QT syndrome and CPVT.
Dr Bo Gregor Winkel
Consultant Cardiologist
MD, PhD.
Dr Bo Winkel is a Consultant cardiologist based in Denmark. He specialises in non-invasive electrophysiology, inherited cardiac diseases, genetics, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest survivors