Our Focus
Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for more deaths than any other cause and contribute substantially to the overall burden of disease worldwide. Furthermore, dysfunction of the vascular system contributes to the physical and cognitive impairments associated with ageing and many age-related conditions.
The VasoActive Cardiovascular Research team has a focus on the mechanisms of vascular function, and the development of novel prevention, treatment and rehabilitation interventions that aim to enhance cardiovascular health.
Healthy people: Through our work we contribute to the strategic research goals of UniSC, aiming to improve the quality of human life around the world.
Our Team
The VasoActive Cardiovascular Research team brings together researchers, clinicians and students from UniSC, the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and our other clinical partners.
Would you like to know more or participate in our trials and studies?
If you would like to know more about any of our studies, please feel free to contact the project team on (07) 5456 6354, or email us: vasoactive@usc.edu.au
To receive our newsletter and be kept informed of upcoming studies that might interest you, please subscribe.
Research Leads and Supervisors
Chris Askew
Meegan Walker
Fraser Russell
Yuri Kriel
Belinda Parmenter
Linda Gallo
Joseph Scott
Mathew Summers
Hattie Wright
Sonia Coetzee
Daniel Wadsworth
Alex Metse
Shaun Sandow
- Dr Mark Windsor – Clinical Trial Coordinator – Peripheral Artery Disease trials
- Sian Campbell – Project Manager – Peripheral Artery Disease trials
- Damien Kerley – Exercise Physiologist – Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Research Program
- Amanda Moore – Research Assistant – Data Analysis
Current research students
- Andrew Kwintowski – MSc candidate. Topic: Blood flow restriction exercise in cardiovascular disease.
- Farzad Nikaein – PhD candidate. Topic: Dietary interventions during cardiac rehabilitation.
- Jacy Hyland – PhD candidate. Topic: Evidence-based behaviour change diet and physical inactivity for people with insomnia.
- Julia Ruiz – PhD candidate. Topic: Lifestyle behaviours and vascular function in young adults.
- Krist Feka - PhD candidate. Topic: Peripheral artery disease and cardiac rehabilitation.
- Lisa Randall – PhD candidate. Topic: Drug discovery: Anti-hypertrophic scarring and Australian stingless bee propolis.
- Renuka Dsanayaka - PhD candidate. Topic: Implementation of community-based cardiac rehabilitation in regional, rural and remote settings
Past research graduates
- Sam Dugdale (MSc 2024) - The effect of a high-fat meal on markers of vascular function in people with metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).
- Sarah Latif (MSc 2024) - The relationship between arterial stiffness, Framingham cardiovascular risk score and joint mobility in women transitioning through menopause.
- Grace Young (PhD 2023) - Skeletal muscle microvascular blood flow responsiveness: relationship with myocardial microvascular blood flow in coronary artery disease.
- Soheila Beiranvand (PhD 2022) - Modulatory effects of Australian honeys on inflammation, oxidative stress and wound-healing.
- Digby Krastins (MSc 2021) - Understanding the influence of lower limb revascularisation and exercise training on arterial and microvascular blood flow in peripheral arterial disease.
- Tim Stuckenschneider (PhD, 2020) – Exercise, cognitive function and the risk of dementia.
- Annelise Meneses (PhD 2020) - Skeletal muscle microvascular blood flow as a potential treatment target for exercise intolerance in patients with peripheral arterial disease.
- Timo Klein (PhD 2020) - Influence of age on the cerebrovascular responses to exercise - understanding the role of blood pressure.
- Michael Nam (PhD 2019) – Effect of insulin on coronary microvascular blood flow.
- Lara Mietal (PhD 2019) - Regulation of macrophage antioxidant enzyme activity and inflammatory processes by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on abdominal aortic aneurysm.
- Meegan Walker (PhD 2019) - Blood flow during passive leg movement: impact of vascular disease and nitrate supplements.
- Kayla Stefanidis (PhD 2019) - The relationship between cerebrovascular hemodynamics and neurocognitive function in non-stroke cardiovascular disease.
- Yuri Kriel (PhD 2018) - The effect of high intensity intermittent exercise on local tissue oxygenation, blood pressure and enjoyment in 18 – 30-year-old sedentary men.
- Mark Windsor (PhD 2018) - Exercise, inflammation and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
- Jessica Stephens (PhD 2018) - Post-exercise cold water immersion and blood flow.
- Maria Perissiou (PhD 2018) - Arterial stiffness and abdominal aortic aneurysm: The effect of acute exercise.
- Brad Stefanovic (PhD 2013) - Muscle fatigue in peripheral arterial disease: The role of blood flow.
Our research is conducted in partnership with a wide range of clinical and industry partners. We thank the following partners for their collaboration and support.
- Actegy Health
- Adem Crosby Cancer Centre, Sunshine Coast University Hospital
- Burns and Reconstructive Surgery Research Group, ANZAC Research Institute
- Comlink Australia
- Heart Research Institute – Centre for Peripheral Artery Disease
- Jill O’Donnell Vascular Surgery
- Keyton Retirement Living
- Pankaj Jha Vascular Surgery
- Sleep Health Foundation
- Sunshine Coast University Hospital
- Sunshine Coast Health Institute
- Sunshine Coast Vascular
- Sunshine Vascular
- The Lundbeck Foundation
- UniSC Clinical Trials Centre
- Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease
Our team collaborates widely with other research teams locally and globally. If you are interested in working with us, please feel free to contact the project team members directly, or email us: vasoactive@usc.edu.au
Our Research
Current Themes and Projects
Understanding the mechanisms of vascular function and blood flow
- Microdomain signaling in human myometrial and omental arteries in pregnancy.
Project leads: Shaun Sandow, et al. - Cerebrovascular signaling in health and disease – identifying treatments for stroke.
Project leads: Shaun Sandow, et al. - Gestational diabetes and mechanisms maintaining blood flow.
Project leads; Shaun Sandow, et al. - Tumour Perfusion: Examining the effect of exercise on tumour blood flow.
Project leads: Meegan Walker, Chris Askew, et al.
Exercise and novel rehabilitation strategies for cardiovascular conditions
- The Saving Legs and Lives Trial: Exercise based cardiac rehabilitation following lower limb revascularisation for peripheral artery disease.
Project leads: Krist Feka, Chris Askew, Tony Stanton, Mia Schaumberg, et al. - The FootPAD trial: The effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on walking capacity in people with peripheral artery disease.
Project leads: Chris Askew, Mark Windsor, Meegan Walker, Fraser Russell, Mia Schaumberg, et al. - Blood flow restriction exercise training as part of cardiovascular rehabilitation.
Project leads: Andrew Kwintowski, Yuri Kriel, Chris Askew, et al. - SHAPE Trial: supervised home-based telerehab exercise program for Peripheral Artery Disease.
Project leads: Jon Golledge (JCU), Chris Askew, Belinda Parmenter, Sonja Coetzee, et al. - TEAL Trial: the tele-artery trial.
Project leads: Jon Golledge (JCU), Chris Askew, Belinda Parmenter, Sonja Coetzee, et al.
Promoting healthy behaviours for the prevention of cardiovascular disease across the lifespan
- Effect of lifestyle behaviours on vascular function in young adults.
Project leads: Linda Gallo, Hattie Wright, Julia Ruiz, Dan Wadsworth, Chris Askew, et al. - Improving treatment outcomes and reducing cardiovascular risk among people with insomnia through a codeveloped and theory-informed behavioural intervention.
Project leads: Alex Metse, Jacy Hyland, Joe Scott, Mia Schaumberg, Hattie Wright, Mathew Summers, Chris Askew, et al. - Community Healthy Ageing Initiative (CHAI) – developing community-led Healthy Ageing Hubs to empower healthy lifestyle choices and reduce dementia risk in vulnerable communities.
Project leads (UniSC): Dan Wadsworth, Mia Schaumberg, et al. - Cultural Production – exploring the health benefits of co-produced art events in retirement living communities.
Project leads: Dan Wadsworth, Joe Scott, Andy Ward, et al.
Diet and natural therapies for cardiovascular health
- The effect of a high-fat meal on markers of vascular function in people with Metabolic Associated - Fatty Liver Disease.
Project leads: Sam Dugdale, Meegan Walker, Hattie Wright, Chris Askew, et al. - Medium and long-chain fatty acids for the prevention of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
Project leads: Fraser Russell, Chris Askew, et al. - Anti-scarring potential of resin compounds produced by Australian stingless bees.
Project leads: Lisa Randall, Fraser Russell, et al. - Targeting the Omega-3 index during cardiovascular rehabilitation to improve inflammation and vascular function.
Project leads: Farzad Nikaein, Chris Askew, Fraser Russel, Hattie Wright, et al.
Contact Us
Would you like to know more or participate in our trials and studies?
If you would like to know more about any of our studies, please feel free to contact the project team on (07) 5456 6354, or email us: vasoactive@usc.edu.au
To receive our newsletter and be kept informed of upcoming studies that might interest you, please subscribe.
Are you interested in working with us?
Our team has several ongoing opportunities for prospective research candidates wishing to undertake Honours, Masters, or PhD research programs. Please contact the research leaders and supervisors directly, or email us: vasoactive@usc.edu.au
Scholarships are often available including project-specific scholarships and university scholarships. For general information about scholarships please visit the HDR Scholarships page.
We also welcome enquiries from prospective post-doctoral candidates and research collaborators.
