Cardiac Clinical Research

The cardiac clinical research program covers a broad range of topics including echocardiography research, epidemiology, artificial intelligence, sleep apnea, arrhythmias and coronary CT. The principal investigators of the National Echo Database of Australia (the world’s largest echocardiography research database) are Notre Dame academics. The Artificial Intelligence work covers automation of echocardiography interpretation, ECG arrhythmia detection, and sleep apnea detection.

  • Featured Projects

    National Echo Database Australia (NEDA)

    NEDA is the world’s largest echocardiography research database. It has collected echocardiography measurement and report data from echocardiography laboratories from around Australia. NEDA is linked with mortality data obtained from the National Deaths Index from the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare.

    NEDA is available for affiliated researchers to explore a wide range of research questions relevant to the field of echocardiography

    Development of a novel ECG interpretation and analysis system using artificial intelligence

    In collaboration with a private company, we have developed an AI system that automatically analyses ECG data for detection of arrhythmias. The system is currently undergoing further development and enhancement with the goal of widespread applicability to ECG devices.

    Development of automated echocardiography interpretation using artificial intelligence

    In a collaboration with the National Echo Database Australia and a private company, we are developing a fully automated system for interpretation of echocardiography data.

  • Featured publications

    The National Echocardiographic Database of Australia (NEDA). Rationale and Methodology

    Strange G, Celermajer D, Marwick T, Prior D, Ilton M, Codde J, Scalia G, Stewart S, Bulsara M, Gabbay E, Playford D.

    In Press American Heart Journal, 2018

    Advances in screening for undiagnosed atrial fibrillation for stroke prevention and implications for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: A literature review and research agenda

    Gahungu N, Judkins C, Gabbay E, Playford D.

    In Press Heart, Lung and Circulation, 2018

    The role of Pre-operative Investigations in Predicting Outcomes from Bariatric surgery

    Pathmanathan A, Ahmadi A, Chandraratna H, Playford D.

    The Society for Obesity and Bariatric Anaesthesia Annual Scientific Meeting 2017, London. www.sobaconference.com/abstracts

    Left Heart Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension: Are we seeing the full picture?

    Chung K, Strange G, Celermajer D, Codde J, Scalia G, Playford D.

    Heart, Lung and Circulation, 2017 (in press).

    Book Chapter; Chapter 32: Echocardiography in Pulmonary Hypertension

    Celermajer D, Playford D.

    In Practice of Echocardiology, 6e. 2016

    Making Australia the benchmark in echocardiography databases: The National Echo Database Australia (NEDA)

    Playford D, Strange G, Scalia G, Stewart S, Marwick T, Keogh A, Prior D, Steele P, Ilton M, Gabbay E, Codde J, Sheehan B and Celermajer D.

    Pulmonary Circulation, 2017, Vol 7, Pg 1-7

    A Framework for Real-Time Source-Agnostic ECG Monitoring Using Artificial Intelligence

    Playford D, Jais P, Weerasooriya R, Martyn S, Bollam L, Turewicz M, et al.

    Heart, Lung and Circulation, 2017

    The Echocardiographic Pulmonary to Left Atrial Ratio (ePLAR): Identifying Cause of Pulmonary Hypertension and Subsequent Mortality Risk.

    Kuppusamy H, Playford D, Codde J, Scalia G, Strange G.

    Heart, Lung and Circulation, 2017

    P1721A validation study of automated atrial fibrillation detection using Alerte Digital Health artificial intelligence system

    Playford D, Jais P, Weerasooriya R, Martyn S, Bollam L, Turewicz M, et al.

    European Heart Journal, 2017

    NEDA PH-LHD Predictive Model: Validation of Diastolic Markers of Pulmonary Hypertension with Right Heart Catheterisation

    Chung K, Naing P, Playford D, Celermajer D, Codde J, Scalia G, et al.

    Heart, Lung and Circulation, 2017

  • HDR Student Supervision

    Kevin Chung

    Masters of Philosophy

    Thesis: Diastolic Dysfunction, Pulmonary Hypertension and Mortality.

    Overview: This thesis has developed a series of insights into markers of diastolic dysfunction and in particular, predictors of pulmonary hypertension in the setting of left heart disease. A review article has been accepted for publication on the topic, and original data has been presented at three international and national cardiology meetings. The thesis is being prepared for submission.

    Pyi Naing

    Masters of Philosophy

    Thesis: Differentiating pre-capillary from post-capillary pulmonary hypertension by Doppler Echocardiography in a large real-world database

    Overview: This study examines the use of a new echocardiographic marker (the echocardiographic pulmonary to left atrial ratio, ePLAR) in identifying pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease, by comparing echo data with right heart catheterisation data. A review article has been published and has been nominated as “best review of 2017”, and the data has been presented at a national cardiology conference.

    Harveen Kuppusamy

    Masters of Philosophy

    Thesis: The Echocardiographic pulmonary to left atrial ratio (ePLAR): Identifying left heart related pulmonary hypertension and subsequent mortality risk

    Overview: This thesis examined the use of a echo new marker in identifying subsequent mortality risk in pulmonary hypertension. A review article has been published, and the data presented at a national cardiology conference.

    Atefeh Haghi

    Masters of Science (Medicine)

    Thesis: The individual and combined value of measures of left ventricular size, shape and ejection fraction in predicting mortality: Insights from the National Echo Database Australia (NEDA).

    Overview: This research, currently underway, will examine each of the measurements, areas and calculations used to assess left ventricular function in NEDA

    Aravinda Selvarajah – Not on our books yet

    Thesis: Mismatch between the presence of coronary CT calcium and plaque and cardiovascular risk assessment

  • Collaborations

    Effectiveness of Imaging Pathways for CVD Epidemics in the Elderly

    Funding from NHMRC Project Grant

    Baker IDI Research Institute, Melbourne

    Professor Tom Marwick

    Director, Baker IDI

    CAUGHT-CAD

    Funding from NHMRC Project Grant

    Baker IDI Research Institute, Melbourne.

    Professor Tom Marwick

    Director, Baker IDI

  • Contact

    Professor David Playford

    David@playford.biz