Every 9 minutes a heart fails
Help lifesaving research take the lead
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a devastating heart condition and one of the leading causes of heart failure and heart transplants. Affecting one in 250 Australians, DCM can cause significant, potentially deadly heart damage before any symptoms appear.
For people like India, the damage can be so severe, a heart transplant is their only chance for survival. India was 17 years old when heart disease first turned her life upside down. She went from being a star athlete with Olympic dreams, to struggling to walk.
Your support this tax time could help researchers stop this devastating disease in its tracks.
We urgently need to raise at least $479,000 to fill critical gaps in funding before June 30. Will you donate today, and give our researchers a head start on beating heart disease to save lives?
The devastating impact of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
DCM weakens the heart’s main chamber and can cause severe heart failure
DCM affects 1 in 250 Australians - that’s over 100,000 people nationwide, and 32 million globally
Every nine minutes, someone is admitted to hospital in Australia with heart failure
Many people with DCM remain undiagnosed until heart damage is irreversible
When the race of her life became the fight for her life
When India was 17 she had the world at her feet, with dreams of one day racing in the Olympics. But just five years later, she was suffering severe heart failure, and a heart transplant was the only hope of saving her life.
You might wonder how could this happen to someone so young, healthy and active? Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was silently destroying India’s heart by causing the main chamber in her heart to enlarge and weaken. By the time she collapsed, the damage was already done.
“DCM is a disease that can affect anyone, and without any warning. It’s why the research taking place at the Institute means so much to me and my family. It’s truly lifesaving.” - India
Stopping DCM in its tracks: The next phase of research is crucial
World-leading scientist Professor Diane Fatkin has dedicated over 20 years to helping families affected by heart disease. Her team is racing to provide answers for every patient affected by DCM.
Professor Fatkin’s goal is to develop precise genetic testing that can diagnose patients before symptoms appear and irreversible damage occurs – ensuring they receive treatments to stop DCM in its tracks. Her team is also investigating how lifestyle factors like alcohol consumption, obesity or exercise play a role in the progression of DCM.
It’s not just our scientists who are trying to beat DCM. A remarkable little helper called a zebrafish is helping to unlock its secrets. These tiny tropical wonders share similar genes with humans, allowing researchers to safely examine genetic and lifestyle factors.
With your support, we can turn research into lifesaving breakthroughs.
From student athlete to heart transplant survivor
Watch India meet the researchers working to save lives like hers
How your tax-deductible gift will help support crucial research
$66
can provide essential lab materials
$127
can help researchers isolate the DNA of two DCM patients from blood or cheek samples
$228
can help researchers identify genes that may cause DCM
$504
can help researchers study one patient’s entire genetic makeup to uncover genetic causes of DCM
