A USC academic with more than 20 years’ experience in cardiovascular research has become the first joint appointment of the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS) and the University.

Associate Professor of Exercise Physiology Chris Askew was this week announced as a Conjoint Principal Research Fellow, Cardiovascular Health.

His position will strengthen the existing collaborative partnership between SCHHS and USC and ensure that cardiovascular research is targeted at real-world clinical problems.

Dr Askew said there was a strong need in the Sunshine Coast region and beyond for new approaches to addressing the burden of cardiovascular disease.

“This role will provide the opportunity for us to test new ideas and new ways of managing patients with cardiovascular disease,” he said.

“I am eager to join the SCHHS clinical teams in cardiology and vascular surgery, leading new discovery studies and clinical trials in these areas.

“As an exercise physiologist, I’m particularly interested in better understanding how exercise can be used as part of the management of various health conditions, and in the development of new exercise approaches to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease.”

SCHHS Director of Research Dr Brad McCall said Dr Askew’s role would contribute to improving cardiovascular health, which is both a State and local health priority.

“Understanding how early changes in vascular function impacts the longer-term development of serious cardiovascular disease is critical in achieving the goal of making Queensland the healthiest state,” he said.

SCHHS Chief Executive Adjunct Professor Naomi Dwyer said joint appointments helped create an ideal environment and opportunity to combine academic science with specialist clinical experience.

“We can build capacity for research and the expansion of evidence-based care to provide improved health services and health outcomes to the Sunshine Coast community,” she said.