CCRG Alumni: Dr Meredith Redd
Dr Meredith Redd is a scientist and bioengineer with a strong background in translational research. She is a leader of multi-disciplinary programs and fostering clinical collaborations. Her research focuses on identifying new therapeutic targets and regenerative approaches to heal the heart.
Dr Redd says she knew she wanted to pursue a career in STEM at an early age.
“I always loved math and science in school, so initially I pursued a degree in engineering which led me to study tissue engineering and regenerative medicine which eventually led me to where I am now.
Meredith moved to Brisbane from the USA in 2017 to carry out my postdoctoral research with CCRG.
“Our research so far has shown that spider venom peptide, Hi1a, can protect the heart from injury by blocking the cell death response during acidosis. Ideally, over the next several years we will be able to translate these findings into humans to improve treatments for cardiovascular disease. I hope that someday our research is able to have a positive impact on patients.”
Dr Redd was awarded the 2021 Ralph Reader Basic science Award for her abstract: Genetic and pharmacological studies reveal acid sensing ion channel 1a as a novel therapeutic target against cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury.
The Ralph Reader Prize (originally the Young Investigators Award) was first presented in 1980. Named after Dr Ralph Reader, a tribute to his encouragement of young investigators during his time as Medical Director of the National Heart Foundation from 1961-70 and as Director and Chief Executive from 1970 until his retirement in 1980.The Ralph Reader Prize remains the most prestigious research award to young investigators by the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ).
Finalists will be selected in each section, Basic and Clinical Science, to present their work in the Ralph Reader prize session at the CSANZ Annual Scientific Meeting. The Ralph Reader Prize is awarded to the best individual presentation in each prize session. Traditionally the Ralph Reader Prize Finalists in Basic Science speak following the RT Hall Lecture at the Opening of each CSANZ ASM. The Finalists in Clinical Science present the following morning after the Kempson Maddox Lecture.
At the time of the Awards Meredith was a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience, her work investigating the mechanisms that underlie cell death during cardiac ischemia-induced acidosis.
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