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Structural Heart research
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.
Research focus
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.
The team
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
Current trials open to enrolments
Transcatheter Aortic valve trial
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
Transcatheter Mitral valve replacement trial
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
Hypertension trial
Medtronic SPYRAL HTN OFF Meds renal denervation trial
For investigation in the treatment of hypertension with a Medtronic SPYRAL renal denervation procedure
Commercially sponsored trials completed or closed to enrolments
Latest news
Miniature heart pump a life saver
Alfred cardiologists have used a miniature heart pump to keep a Melbourne-man alive during a high-risk stent procedure.
Controlled heart attack restores quality of life
A unique procedure, which involves the use of alcohol to induce a controlled heart attack is restoring quality of life for a small number of patients.