Research in the Baker Department of Cardiovascular Research, Translation and Implementation
The Baker Department of Cardiovascular Research, Translation and Implementation is a conduit to the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute: An independent, internationally renowned medical research facility with a history spanning more than 95 years.
Our research extends from the laboratory to wide-scale community studies with a focus on diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and associated metabolic diseases.
We also offer postgraduate opportunities through our Honours, Masters and PhD programs, in areas including fundamental science using preclinical models, clinical studies as well as epidemiological and public health studies.
Our research aligns with La Trobe’s research themes: Understanding and preventing disease and Healthy people, families and communities.
Research areas
Our researchers are experts in cardiovascular disease, diabetes and public health. Together, we are translating our discoveries into practice, policy and education.
Our research is grouped into three key areas:
Our researchers are identifying new and improved ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating heart disease and diabetes, and their complications. The goal is to enhance health, reduce disability, improve quality of life and address health disparities.
Our work spans human and clinical research. Our scientists use imaging and other diagnostic tools to better inform our understanding of disease development and treatment. They also conduct clinical trials to evaluate new treatments and undertake health services research to inform how health care can be best delivered.
Many of our researchers are also clinicians who work in a clinic or hospital setting. They are predominantly heart and diabetes specialists whose research is informed by the needs of their patients.
Our scientists are designing new diagnostic, preventative and therapeutic strategies to tackle cardiovascular disease, diabetes and its complications. They are working to understand the cellular mechanisms of disease, biomarkers in the progression of disease and the pathways of gene expression.
Our work spans the Institute’s laboratory-based cellular and molecular biology and preclinical research, with a focus on translating exciting discoveries in the laboratory to clinical care.
Our researchers are examining the trends in diabetes and obesity prevalence and incidence, risk factors at a population level, and new therapeutic approaches to prevent and treat diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Our research encompasses the Institute’s epidemiological and public health groups, spanning clinical diabetes and obesity, physical activity, population health and behavioural epidemiology.
Our work is helping to inform policy guidelines, influence chronic disease management, offer new evidence-based therapies for health professionals, and inform government and health authorities about the scale of these health problems.
Academic and Research Collaborative in Health
Some of our academic staff are also members of La Trobe’s Academic and Research Collaborative in Health, which brings together academics, clinicians, consumers, healthcare professionals, health and social care agencies and policy makers skilled in the translation of interdisciplinary research.
The Academic and Research Collaborative in Health aims to improve the patient experience, patient outcomes, health care quality and safety, and to achieve best practice in service provision. Partners include Alfred Health, Austin Health, Eastern Health, Healthscope, Mercy Health, Northern Health, the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Women’s.
Find out more about the Collaborative.