It is a pleasure to report that Dr Rohit Ramchandra from the Department of Physiology is the recipient of the 2020 Excellence in Research Medal from the Physiological Society of New Zealand. This award was based on his work investigating the mechanisms that alter neural control in cardiovascular disease.
Patients with heart failure have high levels of sympathetic drive to the heart that is directly linked to mortality. Rohit has played a key role in several publications that have dissected the mechanisms that alter levels of cardiac sympathetic drive in disease states. More recently his lab has shown that a novel cardiac pacing paradigm that incorporates normal physiological rhythms can improve outcomes in a preclinical model of heart failure.
Rohit was the recipient based in part on high impact publications, positive editorial commentaries and the number of prestigious grants that he has been awarded for his research. His work is highlighting how neural control of the heart can be targeted to develop better drug-based and device-based treatment strategies in heart failure.
Congratulations Rohit!