Otago PhD and third-year medical student Thomas Pirker will be researching the biological activity of a novel inflammatory protein called suPAR (soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor) at the Christchurch Heart Institute.
High suPAR levels in heart disease patients are often associated with poorer outcomes, and there is limited knowledge to date on whether suPAR has any biological activity on the heart.
Mr Pirker said he would research suPAR’s biological actions on the heart wall (myocardium) by studying cellular pathways activated by suPAR and its role in energy metabolism, which was important for heartbeat regulation during heart attack recovery.
"Knowledge obtained from this research could potentially unlock a new treatment pathway for heart attacks and improve survival and recovery."
Fellow PhD and third-year medical student Devin Tonkin will investigate the potential of a new therapy called a "microRNA cocktail" to restore normal levels of microRNA in a failing heart.
Dysregulation of microRNA molecules in chronic heart failure is thought to increase the death of heart cells, reduce the formation of new blood vessels and stiffen the heart walls.
By developing a three-dimensional model of heart tissue, Mr Tonkin hoped to mimic chronic heart failure and evaluate the effects of the microRNA cocktail treatment.
Otago PhD and first-year medical student Mathew Shuen plans to unravel the cellular biology of the ageing heart.
He said his research would examine how levels of nuclear pore complex proteins in heart muscle cells changed with patient ageing.
Investigating the cellular causes of heart ageing could lead to new interventions that directly targeted the underlying mechanisms and informed the prevention and treatment of age-related heart diseases, he said.
Heart Foundation medical director Dr Gerry Devlin said the scholarship was designed to support promising health professionals and scientists carrying out heart research in New Zealand.
"This year, the successful applicants are all enrolled in intercalated PhD and medical degrees — an infrequent occurrence.
