Evany Dinakis is a final year PhD student in the Hypertension Research Laboratory led by Professor Francine Marques, and her research primarily focuses on the interplay between hypertension, the immune system and pH-sensing mechanisms. In particular, Evany has explored whether acidic by-products from dietary fibre fermentation act via pH-sensing G-protein receptors such as GPR68 under hypertensive conditions, with findings recently published. Currently, Evany is working on further characterising the peripheral immune system to better understand its role in human blood pressure regulation.

Tayla is a final year PhD student in the Hypertension and Immunobiology lab within the Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research at La Trobe University. Her primary research goal is to understand the cellular drivers of vascular fibrosis, with a focus on the aortic endothelium and fibroblasts. To decipher this, Tayla uses single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, in-vitro and in-vivo techniques to decipher the cellular changes attributed to vascular fibrosis.

Phoebe Tsin Tse Cheong is a second-year PhD student at the Biomedicine Discovery Institute of Monash University, and the Victorian Heart Institute (VHI) of the Victorian Heart Hospital in Clayton, VIC. She holds a Masters degree in Microbiome in Health and Disease from King's College London, UK, and Bachelor's degree in Food Science and Nutrition, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Phoebe's academic journey has compelled her to integrate methodologies from interdisciplinary aspects to uncover the potential of the gut microbiome for biotherapies. Her keen interest is in the modulation of the gut microbiome in health and diseases, particularly in blood pressure regulation. Phoebe's dedication to research has been recognized with the VHI travel grant, which has enabled her to present her findings at the Human Microbiome Symposium, in EMBL Heidelberg, Germany. Phoebe aspires to contribute to the growing field of microbiome research and its translational potential in precision and personalised nutrition.

Genevieve Shek is a fourth-year Honours medical student at the University of New South Wales with a strong interest in cardiology, particularly hypertension and vascular ageing. Her current research project investigates the relationship between arterial stiffness and cognitive function in older adults, aiming to better understand the interplay between cardiovascular and neurological health. Through this work, she hopes to contribute to strategies for early detection and prevention of cognitive decline, with a focus on sex-specific differences in vascular risk.

I am a final-year PhD candidate at the Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, led by Prof. Chris Sobey and Prof. Grant Drummond. I completed my Master’s in Biomedical and Health Sciences at Monash University in 2020. My research uses single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to investigate the role of human amnionic epithelial cells (hAECs) in stroke, focusing on their neuroprotective effects and impact on cognition. I aim to investigate the effects of stroke on transcriptional changes in brain cell populations and characterize how hAECs influence recovery processes. My work incorporates advanced techniques such as the photothrombotic stroke model, neurobehavioral testing, transcriptomics, and bioinformatics tools to better understand the mechanisms underlying stroke recovery.

Chaoran Yang is a second-year PhD student of the Hypertension Research Lab under supervision of Prof Marques, Prof. Professor El-Osta. He holds a research-based Master's degree from Tohoku University and a Master's degree in Statistics from Ghent University. Currently, he is immersed in exploring the personalised response to dietary fibre using bioinformatic and biostatistic method.

Dr. Taku Furukawa is a PhD candidate at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne and a dual-trained intensivist and anaesthetist. He is completing his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Yugeesh Lankadeva, Prof. Clive May, Dr. Connie Ow, and the late Prof. Rinaldo Bellomo. His research focuses on the mechanisms of acute kidney and brain injury arising from cardiac surgery and sepsis, aiming to develop novel diagnostics and therapeutics. He received the Best Oral Presentation Award at the Hypertension Australia ASM 2023 and represented the society at the British and Irish Hypertension Society meeting in 2024.

Ritu is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Sydney. Her PhD explored digital health technologies for supporting patients with atrial fibrillation and her postdoctoral research work is focused on the accuracy of devices used by Australians to measure their blood pressure at home. Ritu’s research interests are in optimising self-management for those with cardiovascular diseases.

Dr Adriana Knezic completed her PhD in the Department of Pharmacology at Monash University in 2023, where she investigated the pathophysiology and therapeutic targeting of stroke in several preclinical models. She is now a Postdoc in the Department under the mentorship of A/Prof. Brad Broughton. Her current research focuses on developing novel therapeutics for stroke, including various stem cell-based approaches, using compounds to target the organ-protective effects of alternative arms of the renin-angiotensin system (such as the AT2R) and Relaxin Family Peptide Receptors, as well as hydrogel-based delivery systems for the brain. Beyond her research, she chairs the ECR Career Development Subcommittee of the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, serves on the Hypertension Australia ECR committee and is the secretary of the ASCEPT Cardiovascular SIG.

Dr. Munenori Kusunoki is a dual-trained anaesthesiologist and intensive care physician. He earned his medical degree in 2010 and completed a PhD at Kansai Medical University in 2020, studying the effects of hypoxia on organ injury and metabolism, and the impact of anaesthetics on insulin secretion. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Kansai Medical University Hospital, teaching medical students and fellows, and providing anaesthesia and intensive care for approximately 2,500 patients annually. He has published 16 peer-reviewed articles and received multiple awards and research grants. In May 2024, he joined the Translational Cardiovascular and Renal Research Group at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health in Australia as a Clinician Research Fellow. His research focuses on haemodynamics and organ injury in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy. His overarching goal is to improve cardiovascular, brain, and kidney outcomes in critically ill patients.

Gautam Satheesh is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, and a researcher at The George Institute for Global Health in Sydney. His doctoral research focuses on strengthening team-based care for hypertension in Australia, with particular emphasis on enhancing the roles of nurses and pharmacists in supporting evidence-based blood pressure management. His work applies mixed methods and implementation science approaches to explore provider perspectives, workforce modelling, and system-level reforms that can expand access and equity in hypertension care. Gautam has also contributed to global policy efforts, including the World Heart Federation’s efforts on Single Pill Combinations and the WHO HEARTS technical package on hypertension control. His broader research interests span cardiovascular disease prevention, access to essential medicines, and innovative service delivery models in low- and middle-income countries. He is passionate about building evidence that bridges clinical practice, health systems, and policy for population-level impact.

Dr Chudan Xu is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Hypertension Research Laboratory, Monash University. Their research investigates the impact of dietary fibre deficiency on the development of hypertension, integrating insights from animal models and human studies. By combining analyses of the gut microbiome, host metabolome, and translational approaches, Dr Xu aims to uncover the mechanisms through which fibre insufficiency contributes to cardiovascular risk. Beyond research, Dr Xu is involved in teaching and committee work, with a strong commitment to mentoring and supporting early-career scientists. Their long-term goal is to translate fundamental discoveries into preventive and therapeutic strategies that improve cardiovascular health.

Dr Katrina Mirabito Colafella leads the Molecular and Integrative Mechanisms of Vascular Biology Laboratory at Monash University’s Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI), where she also serves as the inaugural Monash BDI Anita Castan Fellow. Her research vision is to transform the treatment of hypertension and cardiovascular disease through precision medicine, with a focus on sex-specific mechanisms in blood pressure regulation. She is also at the forefront of research into the cardiovascular side effects of cancer therapies, aiming to develop innovative strategies that prevent or reverse these complications. Through her work, Dr Mirabito Colafella is redefining how we understand and treat cardiovascular disease in vulnerable populations, with the ultimate goal of improving long-term health outcomes.