Skip to content

Search

STopping Acute Rheumatic Fever Infections to Strengthen Health (STARFISH)

STopping Acute Rheumatic Fever Infections to Strengthen Health (STARFISH) brings together a diverse and multidisciplinary research team to investigate the most effective environmental health initiatives (EHIs) aimed at reducing Strep A infections and prevent Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF).

Strep A Burden of Disease Working Group

The Strep A Burden of Disease Working Group (BoDWG) was first established in 2020 through the Strep A Global Vaccine Consortium (SAVAC).

The END RHD CRE: Developing an end game for rheumatic heart disease in Australia

The END RHD CRE will undertake a number of projects across several disciplines of research including epidemiology, biomedical sciences; implementation and translation; and understanding the RHD community with a special focus on documenting the experiences of those living with the disease.

The NZ BPG Pharmacokinetics Study

This work will be undertaken in collaboration with The Kids Research Institute Australia and Australian based research teams to better understand how Penicillin works in Māori and Pacific children/teens who receive monthly BPG injections.

Working Towards a Better Understanding of ARF

Goal: Characterize the pattern of contemporary and endemic ARF and develop a biological signature to improve sensitivity and specificity of ARF diagnosis.

Standardization of epidemiological surveillance of rheumatic heart disease

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a long-term sequela of acute rheumatic fever (ARF), which classically begins after an untreated or undertreated infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A). RHD develops after the heart valves are permanently damaged due to ARF.

Cardiovascular outcomes for Australian women with rheumatic heart disease during pregnancy: A retrospective linked data analysis, 2002–2017

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the acquired autoimmune heart valve damage resulting from untreated infection with the Streptococcus pyogenes bacterium, which affects people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage globally. This study measured RHD-associated major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and the increased risk associated with pregnancy among women diagnosed with RHD. 

Fatigue Is a Key Contributor to Quality of Life in Heart Valve Disease and After Valve Replacement/Repair: A Qualitative Study

Heart valve disease (HVD) can cause morbidity and impairment of quality of life (QOL) both before and after intervention. However, descriptions of the QOL of people with HVD across the disease course are limited. We aimed to collect the experience of people living with HVD through qualitative interviews, focusing on how HVD impacts their self-perceived QOL.

NEARER SCAN (LENO BESIK) evaluation of a task-sharing echocardiographic active case finding programme for rheumatic heart disease in Australia and Timor-Leste

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is underdiagnosed globally resulting in missed treatment opportunities and adverse clinical outcomes. We describe the protocol for a study which aims to co-design, implement and conduct an evaluation of a task-sharing approach to echocardiographic active case finding for early detection and management of RHD in high-risk settings in Australia and Timor-Leste.