A/Professor Thalia Field from the University of British Columbia, Canada visited UNSW as part of the CVMM International Speaker Fellowship, focusing on brain health and congenital heart diseases.
Professor Field delivered a keynote on "Brain health in congenital heart disease: Knowns, unknowns and implications for care and research across the life course," highlighting critical cardiology-neurology connections in modern interdisciplinary research.
Strengthening Collaborations
The visit transformed existing remote partnerships into stronger in-person collaborations. Professor Field met face-to-face with digital collaborators for the first time, exploring the new TGI campus and discussing strategies for upcoming grants and research protocols.
Key outcomes included identifying complementary research areas in sex and gender differences and cerebral venous thrombosis for joint projects. The visit sets the foundation for Professor Field's planned four-month sabbatical in Sydney in early 2026, which will focus on co-designing collaborative studies, developing joint grant applications, and strengthening mentorship networks.
Community Impact
Professor Field's lecture engaged a diverse audience of faculty and students from cardiology, neurology, and epidemiology. Her insights into congenital heart disease and brain health provided valuable perspectives for researchers studying stroke recovery and cognitive decline.
"The fellowship is a wonderful initiative helping researchers transcend borders that has deepened understanding of brain–heart interactions and inspired new research directions aligned with UNSW's interdisciplinary mission," said host researcher Dr. Cheryl from TGI.
