Aortic stenosis is a heart condition that occurs when the aortic valve, which controls blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body, becomes narrowed. This narrowing makes the heart work harder to pump blood, and if untreated, it can lead to serious complications such as heart failure or even death. The clinical challenge lies in accurately diagnosing the disease at an early stage when interventions could be more effective. Current diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for aortic stenosis often lead to intervention at later stages, disregarding certain factors that could refine treatment decisions.

A/Prof Mayooran Namasivayam and his team at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, supported by the St Vincent’s Clinic Research Foundation, are working to address these challenges. Their innovative research focuses on improving our understanding of aortic stenosis by using advanced imaging and biological sampling techniques. By identifying new biomarkers, the study hopes to better predict which patients might benefit from early intervention, improving outcomes and offering tailored treatment options.

Over the past year, the team has made significant strides in their work. Blood samples from patients with aortic stenosis and healthy controls have been collected, building a strong foundation for detailed analyses. Preparations for cutting-edge multi-omics profiling are underway to uncover molecular signatures linked to the disease.

Simultaneously, the team has collaborated with colleagues who have developed a unique animal model to explore how aortic stenosis affects the heart and responds to therapy in parallel with human data analyses. Early findings from this model have revealed how the heart adapts to changes in workload, providing crucial insights into disease mechanisms. These observations have been successfully linked to human studies, creating a bridge between laboratory discoveries and clinical practice.