Dr Audrey Adji

Dr Audrey Adji

Conjoint Senior Lecturer

PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia (2007 - 2016 P/T); research project "Non-Invasive Characterisation of Age-Related Changes in Ascending Aortic Blood Pressure and Blood Flow: From Old Concept to Novel Approach"

Graduate Certificate in Statistics, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia (2004 - 2006)

Master of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (1999 - 2001)

Bachelor of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Atmajaya, Jakarta, Indonesia (1992 - 1997)

Medicine & Health
School of Clinical Medicine

I completed my PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Macquarie University, Sydney, in 2016. My research focus is to characterise change in cardiac ejection pattern, cardiac contractility and arterial pulsatile function of human circulation due to aging and cardiovascular diseases. This is achieved using a hemodynamic approach, through application of both medicine and engineering principles to cardiovascular physiology. I have been working on this area since completing my Master of Biomedical Engineering degree from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, in 2001. I joined the Cardiac Mechanics Laboratory at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in 2019 led by Professor Christopher Hayward, and St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research in 2021. My main research objective is to apply hemodynamic principles to new cardiovascular research area, including chronic diseases such as hypertension, valvular heart disease and pulmonary hypertension, clinical impications of the arterial (non-)pulsatility in individuals with continuous flow heart assist device, or "reduced pulsatility" mechanical circulatory systems, and acute critical illness such as shock and acute respiratory distress. My other research interest include potential deleterious effect of aging pulsatile circulatory function on the cerebral circulation. My current project includes studies on quantification of pulsatile load in elderly patients with heart valve disease and chronic pulmonary hypertension patients, improving assessment of interaction between cardiac contractility and vascular physical properties in acute shock, and phenotyping vascular characteristics in patients with metabolic syndrome. I also have an interest in advancing non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring through new techniques. To date, I have published papers in various scientific journals, and presented my work in numerous international and national scientific meetings. I am involved in Australian Hypertension Taskforce Working Group, and an advocate on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in academia through my lead in Women in Hypertension Committee of Hypertension Australia and Chair of Early Career Research Network of the Pulse of Asia.

  • Associate Investigator, St Vincent's Clinic Foundation Research Grant 2018
  • Chief Investigator, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Early-Mid Career Outstanding Researchers Grant 2023
  • Associate Investigator, St Vincent's Clinic Foundation St Bernice, Packer Family Grant 2023
  • Chief Investigator, AHRA Women's Health Research and Translational Network EMCR funded Grant 2023

 

 

Pulse of Asia Scientific meeting organiser 2023 (presenter): Nitroglycerin reduces pulsatile afterload but maintains cardiac output without affecting energy consumption efficiency in patients with aortic stenosis.

UNSW CVMM EMCR Conference Award 2022

VCCRI Executive Director Award 2022: Commitment as the Chair of Diversity Committee.

NSW Ministerial Award for Rising Stars in Cardiovascular Research 2021 (finalist).

Pulse of Asia Scientific meeting organiser 2021 (presenter): Comparison of vascular characteristic impedance in time and frequency domain.

NSW CVRN Professional Development Award 2020.

High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia Early Career Researcher Moderated Poster Award 2019 (first author and presenter): Non-invasive estimation of ascending aortic impedance to assess ventricular load in aortic stenosis patients using cardiac MR and applanation tonometry.

International Society of Hypertension Young Investigators Moderated Poster Award 2019 (first author and presenter): A disparate phenomenon of pulse wave reflection with sex in obese individuals.

International Society of Hypertension Mid-Career Award for Women Researchers 2018 (the first recipient): Outstanding work and impressive publication record in the field of hypertension whilst being a role model.

High Blood Pressure Foundation of Australia Travel Award 2018 (presenter): Financial support for selected young investigators to attend and present at the International Society Hypertension Scientific Meeting, Beijing, China.

  • Cardiovascular hemodynamics and cardiac contractility
  • Arterial pulsatility in humans and its characteristic change with aging and disease
  • Association of arterial stiffness and pulse wave reflection (arterial pressure and flow), its deviation from normal function and deleterious effect to the brain
  • Arterial (non-)pulsatility in individuals with continuous pump heart assist device (mechanical circulatory system)
  • Interaction between the heart and the vasculature, and its changes with various acute and chronic illnesses
  • Complex association between ventricle and vascular in structural heart disease
  • Vascular pathophysiology in metabolic syndrome
  • Validation of new non-invasive hemodynamic sensors

I regularly review articles for journals including the American Journal of Hypertension, Journal of Human Hypertension and Scientific Reports. I serve in the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Hypertension and Hypertension Research. I have reviewed abstracts submitted for the national and international Hypertension meetings. I have chaired meeting, judged abstracts, and organised Symposiums and/or Women in Hypertension sessions. 

I am the lead of Women in Hypertension committee of the Hypertension Australia, a ordinary member of Franklin Women (a women’s organisation working in health and medical research), the Heart Foundation NSW Cardiovascular Research Network, and the International Society of Hypertension (international peak body supporting research into high blood pressure related diseases). I also am the Chair of Pulse of Asia Early Career Research Network.

I am a UNSW Ally and past Chair of Diversity Committee at Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.

 

My Research Supervision

2021: 2 Medicine Honours students

2022: 1 Medicine Honours student

2023: 3 Medicine Honours students (2 as principal)

2024: 2 Medicine Honours students (principal)

2021 - 2024: 1 PhD student

Also mentor PhD students, professional internship from biomedical engineering degree