Associate Professor David Peiris awarded the 2014 Ralph Reader Young Investigator Prize

Associate Professor David Peiris, Head of Primary Health Care Research for The George Institute for Global Health, is the 2014 recipient of The Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) Ralph Reader Young Investigator Prize.

The Ralph Reader Young Investigator Prize recognises the very best young cardiology investigative researcher and their body of research work. 

Associate Professor Peiris was awarded for his work on the TORPEDO study which looks at barriers in Australia’s primary healthcare system and how to fix them. This includes the trial of the ‘HealthTracker’ electronic support system which helps patients reduce their cardiovascular risk.

The tracker extracts information from the patient’s health record to determine the risk of stroke or heart attack. It then combines this information with appropriate treatment guidelines. A simple traffic light system is used to inform GPs about the best management of the patient’s health.

Associate Professor Peiris says, “Health service strategies in primary care provide a great opportunity to improve Australia’s vascular disease burden.

“Increasing the number of patients receiving effective measurement of their cardio vascular disease risk factors, along with the prescription of recommended medications, can be made easier with electronic support tools like the HealthTracker.”