Christchurch Heart Institute

The Christchurch Heart Institute is a University of Otago Research Centre working towards improved diagnosis, better prediction and advanced treatments for heart disease Here at the Christchurch Heart Institute we help save thousands of lives through research into improved diagnosis, better prediction and advanced treatments for heart disease. Our research is focussed on

◦New blood tests for hear

t attack diagnosis and prognosis
◦Using new methods for treating heart failure and improving outcomes
◦Understanding the genetics of heart disease; why heart disease runs in some families


The Christchurch Heart Institute also provides a training ground for promising young doctors and scientists to work in heart disease research in New Zealand. Our research is supported mainly by research grants; by a Programme Grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, and Project Grants from the Heart Foundation and Lotteries Health. Studies currently being undertaken:

BAESEL IX SYNCOPE STUDY: Recruiting people who present following a fainting event or a short loss of consciousness to take part in a research study to help find out what the cause of the collapse is due to. We hope to discover faster ways to find or exclude possibly critical causes of short term loss of consciousness. GENIUS: a large international study aimed at identifying genetic risk factors associated with poor clinical outcomes in heart attack patients. HAUORA MANAWA/HEART HEALTH (the Community Heart Study). This is a joint project between the Christchurch Heart Institute and the Maori Indigenous Health Institute (MIHI). This research aims to collect data on the current levels of established heart disease, levels of previously undiagnosed diabetes, cardiovascular disease and their risk factors in randomly-selected population samples from two diverse Maori communities, Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairoa in Hawkes Bay, and Mana Whenua ki Waitaha in Canterbury, as well as a non-Maori control group in Canterbury. IMPERATIVE HF: A study to determine whether the treatment of heart failure can be enhanced using blood levels of the heart hormone (NT-proBNP) to improve survival and reduce the chance of further hospital admission. INSPIRE: A study to test a new potential marker of insulin and pancreas function that could improve the early diagnosis and management of diabetes . Status- Follow up. HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS: Evaluating the heart health of Canterbury. Status- Recruiting

PASIFIKA HEART STUDY: a collaboration with Pacific Trust Canterbury, aims to document up-to-date heart disease risk factor profiles of a Christchurch Pacific Community. The study will also evaluate 3 cholesterol type markers found in the blood. These markers were previously reported as predictors of future heart disease events in international studies of predominantly European ethnic cohorts and the Pasifika Heart Study will be the first to determine normal ranges of these markers in a Pacific ethnic group and whether they are effective at identifying those who may have a future heart disease event. PEOPLE: A study to investigate if the heart pump function has an effect on future outcomes for people who have been diagnosed with heart failure. Over 1000 new Zealanders (325 from Christchurch) have taken part in this study Status- Data Analysis

RESPECT HF: A trial to test reduction in renal nerve activity as a possible treatment for heart failure. Status- Collaboration. SEARCH: investigating the potential of a new blood marker or protein to help diagnose or assess cardiac disease by measuring blood markers in patients who are undergoing a clinical procedure known as transluminal ablation of septal hypertrophy (TASH). Status-Recruiting

SIGNIFICANT HF: An in hospital study testing new blood markers to help diagnose the cause of shortness of breath and identify heart failure. Status- Recruiting

SMART ACS: Using new blood tests and medical information to find better ways of predicting what happens to patients after an acute coronary event (including heart attack). Status- Data Analysis. SONIC: A study to test a new potential marker of blood vessel health. Status- Recruiting. SP-ACE: An in hospital study to determine the ability of a novel blood test for a signal peptide to act as an early indicator in acute cardiac events. STRENGTH- study of a trial of a new fish oil drug in the treatment of high triglycerides (type of fat found in your blood) levels. status-Recruiting

TEMPORAL-HF- Timing of emerging markers with prognostic potential for optimising regime algorithms in heart failure. Status: Recruiting