The Australian Children’s Heart Research Centre will be launched at Royal Children’s Hospital on Sunday November 10th. Minister for Health the Hon John Thwaites will officially launch the Centre, with international expert Professor Alain Carpentierin attendance.

Clinicians from the hospital’s Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Departments, together with researchers at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute will investigate causes and treatment of cardiac disease in children.

The Centre will make an unrivalled contribution to the cardiovascular health of children nationally and internationally by developing research programs in the areas of:

• Congenital heart disease
• Neonatal heart disease

Heart muscle disease

• Rheumatic heart disease
• Primary prevention of ischaemic heart disease

The incidence of heart disease in children indicates a need for such research. Fifty per-cent of the children admitted to intensive care units in Australia are cardiac patients.

In 1996 for example, congenital heart disease was responsible for 8% of the deaths of Victorian children under 14 years of age, ranking it above road traffic accidents, drowning and asthma. In the same year, 2234 Victorian children experienced significant disability related to congenital heart disease. (Burden of Disease Study 1999).

Three patients and their families will be present to celebrate the launch of the Centre on Sunday.

• Twelve-year old Benjamin Byrne was diagnosed with a very complex congenital heart abnormality when he was 1-day old. There was no connection between his heart and lungs, his heart was on the wrong side of his body and one of the main pumping chambers of his heart failed to develop.
• Angus Bland, 10-months old, had a hole-in-the-heart and was operated on when he was 6-months old. Coincidentally, his dad Peter also underwent heart surgery recently.
• Anouska Paul is now 3-years old. She was diagnosed with severe congenital heart disease resulting in pulmonary hypertension when she was 6 weeks-old. She had open heart surgery at 16 weeks.

Launch details

• EVENT: Launch of ‘Australian Children’s Heart Research Centre’
• DAY: Sunday 10th November 2002
• TIME: 10.30am
• PLACE: Ella Latham Theatre, Level 1, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville

Available for interviews and picture opportunities:

• Prof Dan Penny, Director of Cardiology Royal Children’s Hospital
• Dr Christian Brizard, Director of Cardiac Surgery Royal Children’s Hospital
• Prof Bob Williamson, Director Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
• Alison Byrne and son Benjamin. Francesca & Darshen Paul and daughter Anouska. Julia & Peter Bland and son Angus.

Media contact: Julie Webber, Manager RCH Public Affairs 0407 327 418 or 9345 5522.

This event appeared in:

• Herald Sun
• Sunday Herald Sun
• The Age
• Radio coverage in Victoria and interstate.