Heart Lab
Heart Lab is a research venture dedicated to studying the effects of exercise on the heart to better understand heart disease. Backed by the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, St Vincent’s Institute, and St Vincent’s Hospital, our team consists of PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and international collaborators from Belgium and Spain.
Our research focuses on using elite athletes—often considered the "F1 engines" of the human body—to gain insights into heart function. These findings not only help us better understand and address heart rhythm disorders, sudden cardiac death, and other serious cardiovascular conditions, but also translate into practical applications for the general public.
By bridging the gap between athletic performance and heart health, we aim to develop strategies that benefit everyone, from those looking to optimise their fitness to individuals managing heart disease.
Sports Cardiologists
Professor André La Gerche
Andre is a cardiologist specialising in cardiac imaging, a Future Leadership Fellow of the National Heart Foundation and a NHMRC Career Development Fellow. He completed a PhD at the University of Melbourne and 4 years of postdoctoral research studying the effect of endurance exercise on the heart at the University Hospital of Leuven, Belgium, where he is a Visiting Professor.
Professor David Prior
David is Director of Non-invasive Cardiac Imaging at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne and Head of the Cardiology & Heart Failure Outpatient Clinics. In addition he is an Associate Professor with the University of Melbourne and a Clinical Research Fellow at the St Vincent’s Institute.
Dr. Maria Brosnan
Dr Maria Brosnan is a sports cardiologist with a research and clinical interest in arrhythmias and inherited heart disease. Maria is the ‘go to’ cardiologist for many of Australia’s top athletes. She serves as a consultant for Tennis Australia, The AFL draft, Rowing Australia and several professional cycling teams.