The HRI Centre for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a first in NSW, leading the way for PAD research in Australia. It was established to identify gaps in PAD pathophysiology, treatment, and patient care.
The need
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a type of cardiovascular disease due to narrowing of blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to distant sites. The reduced blood flow can affect all organs, but the common form is seen in the lower extremities, such as the legs and feet.
PAD has profoundly negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of Australians, which spills over into ever-increasing costs to diagnose and treat it.
Currently more than 230 million people around the world suffer from PAD.
PAD is a strong predictor of illness and death, potentially leading to strokes, heart attacks, and limb tissue death that may require amputation to treat. With an ageing Australian population, the prevalence of PAD is going to increase. Yet it does not impact all Australians equally, with First Nations people having a three-times higher risk of developing PAD and women having worse outcomes from its treatment.
We currently spend over $875 million annually to treat PAD in Australia. This number is predicted to grow, driven by ageing as well as persistent factors like smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity.
Our approach
The Centre for PAD is working in a new way to mitigate the negative health and financial impacts of PAD and create a more positive therapeutic experience for patients. Through our world-leading research, our vision is to enhance diagnosis, transform treatment, and raise awareness of PAD for all Australians.
The Centre acts as a hub for PAD experts spanning Sydney Local Health District’s Royal Prince Alfred and Concord Hospitals, The University of Sydney, and several research institutes. In this way, the Centre provides a way to transcend the usual silos that prevent consumers, researchers, clinicians and industry professionals from collaborating and developing new insights, tools, models, and therapies together to treat PAD.
Our team
- Discovery Lead – Assoc Prof Mary Kavurma
- Clinical Lead – Assoc Prof Sarah Aitken
- Clinical Lead – Dr David Robinson
- Science Strategy – Prof Mathew Vadas
- Science Strategy – Prof Andrew Coats
Collaborators
- Sydney Local Health District (Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Concord Hospital)
- The University of Sydney
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
- Centenary Institute
- University of New South Wales
- University of Technology Sydney
Have your say
People living with PAD are at the heart of our work, and we invite you to join our important mission.
- Be part of the HRI Centre for PAD community, become an ambassador and get involved in events, seminars, advocacy and clinical trials.
- Help our researchers understand patient challenges and lived experience of PAD.
- See the research we do and value add to make a real difference to your community.