A University of Queensland research team has been awarded the second largest grant ever provided under the National Heart Foundation (NHF) and beyondblue Cardiovascular Disease and Depression Strategic Research Program.
Dr Liu Xin of the School of Medicine, with co-investigators Associate Professors Luis Vitetta, David Crompton and Karam Kostner, received the grant for an innovative Tai Chi program.
The project will be the first study of its kind to evaluate the effects of an innovative Tai Chi program on depression in depressed adults who are at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
The grant of almost $700,000 is one of the largest National Heart Foundation research project grants of its type that UQ has received, according to the NHF.
The investigating team integrates multi-disciplinary research expertise in epidemiology, psychiatry, cardiology, and complementary medicine (including Tai Chi intervention) from UQ's School of Medicine and Queensland Health.
"If this Tai Chi program can be shown to have beneficial effects on indicators of depression and other risk factors for developing CVD, the findings can be translated into great social and economic benefit for Australia," Dr Liu said.
Media: Marlene McKendry 0401 996 847.
