Alfred Health
The Structural Heart Program commenced in 1995, when the team were pioneers in Australia, being the first to provide Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) in Victoria in 2008. TAVIs are provided to high risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. This program continues to be one of the largest in Australia.
Associate Professor Tony Walton leads a highly experienced and enthusiastic team of researchers including experienced structural heart interventional cardiologists and researchers, a structural heart fellow, doctoral (PhD) researchers and research nurses.
The Structural Heart Program research covers international commercially sponsored trials and site Investigator driven research. The research program has consistently made a significant academic contribution with international journal publications, conferences presentations and involvement in international clinical trials.
Our areas of research focus are in the assessment of new devices for the treatment of aortic and mitral valve conditions as TAVI, MitraClip and TMVR procedures, closure devices for reducing the risk of stroke such as LAA and PFO, high frequency ultrasound renal denervation studies for hypertension and assessment of new devices for the treatment of heart failure.
The Alfred TAVI program was the largest Australian site to recruit participants into the Medtronic International TAVI Clinical Trials CoreValve ANZ high risk trial, Evolut R Forward Trial and the Evolut R TAVI vs SAVR Low Risk Trial, and was a high enroller site for the Edwards Solace trial, and the Abbott Vascular Portico 1 and Portico IDE trials.
The Alfred is the only Australian site in the Medtronic SPYRAL HTN ON and OFF Meds trials for interventional treatment of hypertension with renal denervation.
We are also one of few Australian sites to be involved in the first in human trials for the transcatheter replacement of the mitral valve.
If you are interested in becoming involved with one of our clinical trials, please contact one of our helpful research team members for further information.
Head: A/Professor Antony Walton
Investigators: Professor Stephen Duffy, Dr Dion Stub, Dr Nay Min Htun
Structural heart fellow: Dr Julia Stehli
Research nurses: Samantha Holland, Rox Johnston, Bree Davidson, Louise Hammond
St Jude Medical PORTICO IDE TAVI trial
For investigation into the treatment of severe aortic stenosis with an Abbott Vascular PORTICO transcatheter aortic valve in patients who are high risk for a surgical replacement of the aortic valve
Twelve Mitral valve trial
For investigation into the treatment of severe mitral regurgitation with a Twelve Intrepid transcatheter mitral valve in patients who are high risk for a surgical replacement of the mitral valve
Medtronic SPYRAL HTN OFF Meds renal denervation trial
For investigation in the treatment of hypertension with a Medtronic SPYRAL renal denervation procedure
Patients being treated for heart rhythm disorders are commonly advised to avoid caffeine, however a new study suggests coffee and tea may be tolerated – and could even help manage an irregular heart rate.
A life-changing discovery in heart research has revealed a one-off procedure to treat a common condition can also reverse heart failure and eliminate the need for lifelong medication in some patients.
The Alfred is the first Australian hospital to take part in a global trial that could eliminate the need for open heart surgery in some patients suffering a common heart valve disease.