UTS and Curtin University have announced they will
combine research strengths in a newly configured
Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care located
at UTS Broadway Campus.
The University of Technology, Sydney and Curtin University have announced they will combine research strengths in a newly configured Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care.
First established by Curtin University, the new and larger Centre will be located at the UTS Broadway campus within its Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health.
UTS Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research Professor Attila Brungs said the joint research venture would augment the already high performance of the current centre by combining the resources and research strengths of two leading universities, enabling greater outcomes. This will ensure greater research benefit in the increasingly critical area of cardiovascular and chronic care.
“Researchers within the Centre will have far greater scope to conduct research that will benefit sufferers of cardiovascular and chronic conditions,” Professor Brungs said. “The collaboration will also give greater opportunities for national and international leadership in nursing research.”
Linda Kristjanson, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Development at Curtin University said that the new collaborative approach of the Centre would be vital in tackling the complex challenges facing health and social systems.
“Cardiovascular disease and chronic illness are the major challenges of societies globally. Developing collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches is of critical importance and is a key focus of Curtin University’s strategic efforts as demonstrated through the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI). The Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care is tackling some of these challenges particularly through the innovative work in symptom management in chronic heart failure and improving the health of Aboriginal Australians and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.”
Prof. Kristjanson also commented on the wider potential of the collaboration: “The new Centre has the potential to serve as an exemplar for future interdisciplinary and cross institutional approaches through the Australian Technology Network.”
Established in 2007, the Centre focuses on research, scholarship and clinical care to improve the health and well-being of people with cardiovascular and chronic conditions. The Centre activities have an emphasis on outcome driven, patient–centred, interdisciplinary research including:
- Symptom Management
- Risk perception and behaviour change
- Models of care and health services research
- Vulnerable populations
- Health care transitions
- Health education and doctoral research
- Cultural diversity
Existing Centre staff including Professor Patricia Davidson, Centre Director and Professor of Cardiovascular and Chronic Care, Dr Michelle Di Giacomo, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow and Dr Phillip Newton, Research Fellow will be joined by a number of prominent nursing researchers from UTS in establishing new programs of research.
Dr Sally Inglis, National Health & Medical Research Council and National Heart Foundation of Australia Sidney Sax Overseas Post-Doctoral Public Health Research Fellow will also join the Centre in January 2011.
