Current opportunities (December 2024)

PhD Project: Uncovering a Hidden Culprit of Heart Disease

This PhD project offers a unique opportunity to delve into the Raine Study, a rich dataset
following parents and their offspring over three decades. The project focuses on identifying primary aldosteronism, a prevalent and treatable cause of heart disease, within the Raine Study population.

Project Background:

  • The Raine Study, launched in 1989-1991, recruited 2,900 pregnant women in Perth,
    Western Australia.
  • It has followed the parents (Generation 1, Gen1) and their offspring (Generation 2,
    Gen2) for over 3 decades collecting socio-demographic, lifestyle, medical and
    biochemical information.
  • This project will investigate approx. 2,500 Gen1 and 1,500 Gen2 (age 34) for primary
    aldosteronism, a condition marked by excessive aldosterone production from the
    adrenal glands.
  • Primary aldosteronism is a hidden cause of high blood pressure in Australians,
    affecting approximately 14% of hypertensive adults. It is frequently undiagnosed but
    treatable.
  • The project is funded by the Department of Health, Government of Western Australia,
    Cohort Studies – Research Support Program and involves researchers from the
    Medical School at the University of WA, Monash University and other institutions and
    hospitals across Australia.

Project Significance:

This project will be the first to assess:

  • Prevalence of primary aldosteronism in Western Australia.
  • Its impact on cardiovascular health in young adults.
  • The role of genetics in the disease.

PhD Candidate Profile:

  • A highly motivated student with excellent communication and organizational skills.
  • Strong background in biomedical science.
  • Proficient in statistical software (SPSS or STATA preferred).

Overall, this PhD project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to uncovering a
significant, underdiagnosed cause of cardiovascular disease.

For further information please contact Professor Trevor Mori (Medical School, University of
WA, Perth) at [email protected].

PhD Project: Dobney Hypertension Centre – University of Western Australia: 
Primary Aldosteronism – characterizing clinical features for better detection and management

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common cause of elevated blood pressure (hypertension) but commonly overlooked. As a potentially curable form of hypertension, screening and early detection are critical to adequately manage the blood pressure and reduce the associated risk of heart attack and stroke in affected persons. This PhD project offers a unique opportunity for a clinically orientated PhD candidate to better understand the clinical characteristics of the condition, optimize screening and confirmation testing procedures, and assess the safety and efficacy of novel therapeutic approaches.

PhD Candidate Profile:

  • A highly motivated student with interest in clinical and patient orientated research, ideally with a medical, nursing, or allied health background.
  • Excellent communication, people, and organizational skills.
  • Can do attitude” and flexibility to accommodate patient needs.

Project Background:

  • The Dobney Hypertension Centre (DHC) is a joint venture between the University of Western Australia, the Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) and the RPH Research Foundation and serves as a state-wide referral centre for patients with hypertension.
  • The DHC is part of an NHMRC funded “Primary Aldosteronism Centre of Excellence” (PACE) and has unique phenotyping techniques to characterize clinical features of primary aldosteronism.
  • The DHC is involved in national and international clinical trials of cutting edge.
  • The project has three major components:
    1. Phenotyping patients with features of PA with a focus on the relevance of sympathetic activation and evidence of hypertension mediated organ damage.
    2. Optimizing screening and detection of PA with a focus on confirmatory testing such as saline suppression testing and its implementation into clinical routine.
    3. Exploring the safety and efficacy of novel pharmacologic (Aldosterone Synthase Inhibitors) and interventional approaches for the treatment of PA.
  • The project is funded through the DHC and industry sponsors and involves researchers from the Medical School at the University of WA, Royal Perth Hospital, Path West and other institutions and hospitals across Australia.

Project Significance:

This project will yield highly relevant outcomes in regards to:

  • Clinical characterisation of patients with various forms of aldosterone dysfunction.
  • Establishing and implementing optimized screening and confirmation testing for PA.
  • Demonstrating the safety and efficacy of novel therapeutic approaches for PA.

For further information please contact Professor Markus Schlaich (DHC, Medical School, UWA) at [email protected] or A/Prof Damon Bell (DHC, PathWest) at [email protected].