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26 September 2008 Leading stroke specialist wins prestigious RPA Research Medal
A world leading researcher into cardiovascular diseases has today been awarded the prestigious Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Foundation Medal for excellence in research. Professor Craig Anderson, Director of the Stroke Unit at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) and Director, Neurological and Mental Health Division, The George Institute for International Health has been recognised for his studies into stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. NSW Minister for Health, John Della Bosca, said Professor Anderson had established RPA as a major site for clinical research into stroke. “Professor Anderson and his team have made an enormous contribution to the treatment and prevention of stroke and other aspects of cardiovascular disease,” he said. “His research is tackling a global health care problem. “In Australia, stroke is the second highest killer after heart disease and the leading cause of disability in adults. Each year almost 10,000 people in NSW will experience a stroke and up to one third will die. “With research teams extending into the Asia-Pacific, Professor Anderson is leading some of the largest stroke trials in the world. “As a community we are all benefiting from his ground breaking research,” he said. Professor Anderson’s study into intensive blood pressure lowering in acute stroke is the world’s first large-scale randomised evaluation of the effects of early intensive blood pressure lowering in stroke patients. More than 400 patients took part in the trial at 44 hospital sites in Australia, China and South Korea. The results showed that early blood pressure reduction affected the amount of bleeding in the brain and that the treatment could possibly lower the risk of death and disability in stroke patients. This pilot research has led to the National Health and Medical Research Council awarding his team a $2.6 million grant to expand the study. Starting this month, 3,000 stroke patients will be recruited into this trial, making it the world’s largest study addressing the importance of lowering elevated blood pressure in stroke.In another randomised trial of nearly 30,000 patients in 41 countries across the world, Professor Anderson examined the head-to-head comparative and combined effects of the two commonly used blood pressure lowering drugs. The research showed that treatment with either an ARB or an ACE-inhibitor was equally effective, but that their combination did not provide extra health benefits to patients at high risk of heart disease, stroke and heart failure. In fact, the combination treatment was shown to increase adverse effects such as dizziness and blackouts as well as more serious kidney problems. These results have influenced guidelines and public health policy regarding the treatment of high blood pressure, with the recommendation that combined treatment of ARBs and ACE-inhibitors should be avoided in routine clinical practice. Executive Director RPA, Di Gill said Professor Anderson had dedicated 20 years to stroke research and is a worthy recipient of the RPA Medal. “Professor Anderson has published 200 papers, including two articles in the New England Journal of Medicine and another in The Lancet this year,” she said. “He has also given 100 invited lectures at major international meetings, is a member of the editorial board for several scientific journals and is a consultant to international bodies including the World Health Organisation.” Professor Anderson was recently awarded guest Professorship of Peking University Health Sciences Centre in recognition of his contribution to research and health in China and elsewhere. He is also Professor of Stroke Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience at The University of Sydney. The RPA Foundation Medal was established in 2000 to award and recognise excellence and outstanding achievement in medical research at RPA. The winner also receives a cheque for $50,000 to fund further research. The Minister also announced Dr Sanjay Patel as the winner of the Patron’s Prize for 2008 for his research into hardening of the arteries. Dr Patel is a PhD student in the University of Sydney and a practicing cardiologist who trained at RPA. He does his research in the RPA affiliated Heart Research Institute. Dr Patel’s research found the infusion of high-density lipoproteins, also known as ‘good cholesterol’, has the potential to be an exciting new treatment for patients experiencing acute heart attack or stroke. Hardening of the arteries is the leading cause of death in the developed world. This research is an important step in the fight against heart disease.For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au |
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