Posted: 10th April 2025
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, has been awarded a $4.9 million grant from the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to develop a pioneering treatment aimed at improving brain and kidney health outcomes for patients undergoing heart surgery.
The project, led by Professor Yugeesh Lankadeva, aims to reduce postoperative delirium and acute kidney injury, which affect up to 50% and 30% of heart surgery patients, respectively. These complications can slow recovery and, in severe cases, be fatal.
The research focuses on a new sodium ascorbate treatment developed by The Florey. This “mega-dose” treatment has shown promising results in sheep, reducing brain and kidney damage during heart surgery.
“Our early data suggests that sodium ascorbate can prevent delirium by reducing brain inflammation and protect against kidney injury by reducing inflammation and cell damage,” said Professor Lankadeva.
Heart surgery can save lives but often leads to brain and kidney problems in many patients, making recovery challenging.
The project will proceed in three stages: finding the best dose, understanding how it works, and testing its safety and effectiveness in humans. The goal is to improve recovery and long-term health for heart surgery patients.
