Stories

Among the research grants announced by the Heart Foundation on World Heart Day last month was further support for the game-changing pacemaker under development by researchers at the University of Auckland.

Specialist neonatal paediatrician Dr Sarah Harris will continue her research efforts to explore the relationship between premature birth and the heart health of mother and baby later in life, with funding awarded by the Heart Foundation.

Cardiac Cath Lab nurse, Maxine Rhodes, is set to undertake her Master of Nursing with Ara Institute of Canterbury, thanks to a Nurse Practitioner Training Fellowship awarded by the Heart Foundation.

Three New Zealand PhD students have been awarded Heart Foundation Postgraduate Scholarships to further their studies in heart disease.

This year’s Heart Foundation Māori Fellowship recipient, Anita Rangitutia (Ngāti Haua, Tainui) is seeking to understand how whānau, who have or are at high risk of heart disease, modify their behaviour when participating in a Kaupapa Māori clinical exercise programme. Her research will contribute to her doctoral studies at Massey University.

The Heart Foundation is celebrating 20 years of the Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award programme.

A 2020 Heart Foundation-funded research project investigating a new treatment strategy for heart failure patients is showing exciting early results. Now we’re funding a new project to see if the same strategy could be used to prevent people going into heart failure in the first place.

Lee Russell has lived an amazing life full of worldly experiences, but nothing could have prepared him for a heart attack in August 2020.

Heart Foundation funded research is investigating a recently discovered nerve cell in the heart which might play in a role in atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm problem. It’s hoped the research could lead to better and more equitable treatment for New Zealanders who have this increasingly common condition.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) didn’t sneak up on Rose quietly – her first episode quite literally took her breath away. But although AF has led to further heart problems, Rose has a positive outlook and, with her condition under control, it doesn’t affect her day-to-day life.

Toni knows the devastating impact of heart disease. His father had a cardiac arrest at just 52. So when Toni was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, he knew the importance of managing his condition for the sake of his tamariki and moko.

Radio star, Sela Alo, is getting behind the Heart Foundation’s Know your pulse message, after his heart rhythm condition, atrial fibrillation, caused a mini stroke while he was on air.