Hypertension is highly prevalent in the Australian population and an estimated 21% of Queensland adults have high blood pressure.
Dr Ping Chen is a researcher from the University of Queensland and is developing novel nanotechnologies to prolong the lifespan of the QHeart medical balloon device, which is set to be a major treatment option for patients with hypertensive heart failure and resistant hypertension.
Dr Ping Chen is a recipient of Advance Queensland’s Industry Research Fellowship and received $160,000 over two years to develop nanotechnologies and nanomaterial coatings to improve the mechanical strength and biocompatibility of the balloon device.
Tell us about your research project
I’m aiming to enhance the QHeart medical balloon device using nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is an important component of the medical device developed by our industry partner for the treatment of resistant hypertension and hypertensive heart failure.
Why did you choose to research this?
Improving the performance of the medical balloon is a significant industry-based research problem and I’m conducting this research so some progress can be made.
Who are you partnering with and why?
I will cooperate with QHeart Medical Pty Ltd, a Brisbane based cardiovascular device company, because of their expertise in advanced manufacturing.
How will the funding from Advance Queensland support you on your research journey?
It will support me to work with my industry partner and I am eager to see how my research results will have translational outcomes.
What are you wanting to achieve in your research?
I want to create a low cost, non-toxic and an easy to manufacture medical balloon with enhanced performance, which will be installed in the medical device manufactured by our industry partner.
How will your research benefit and assist Queenslanders?
The success of the project will create more jobs for Queenslanders and help patients who suffer from resistant hypertension and hypertensive heart failure.
What does it mean to you to be a recipient of the 2022 Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships program?
It is a great opportunity to gain industrial insight into advancing scientific research work.
