My research aim is to understand the fundamental mechanisms of heart failure leading to improved insights in heart failure biology and better therapeutics, ultimately improving the lives of those living with heart failure.

My particular area of interest is on cardiac metabolism and the role of intermediary metabolism in pathological cardiac remodelling. My work focuses on understanding the point at which the heart moves from coping with long standing high blood pressure to when it struggles to pump effectively.

I have pursued work on the role of a reactive oxygen species-producing signalling enzyme, NADPH Oxidase 4 (Nox4), in regulating cardiac metabolism.

We have shown that Nox4, important in modulating the heart’s response to stress, can actually modify the heart’s capacity to use carbohydrates and fatty acids and adapt to prolonged stress potentially delaying the transition to heart failure.

My current research focuses on understanding the role of intermediary metabolism in modulating the heart’s response to stress, specifically, the role of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway.