Bond University’s Professor Julie Redfern has earned a place in the National Health and Medical Research Council’s 10 of the Best – 17th Edition for her innovative digital approach to preventing and managing cardiovascular disease.
The book highlights 10 standout projects funded by the NHMRC, Australia’s peak government body for funding health and medical research.
Professor Redfern's work addresses a gap in cardiac care. Traditional rehabilitation programs improve outcomes for some patients but many others never attend, and long-term support is limited.
Her team developed digital interventions including text message programs and mobile health apps that provide ongoing support for patients after a cardiac event.
These help people adhere to medications, maintain healthy lifestyles and manage risk factors, extending care beyond the hospital or clinic.
By involving patients in the design process, the programs are simple, practical and engaging.
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Even basic interventions such as supportive text reminders were shown to significantly improve adherence and encourage lasting behavioural change.
Early results indicate that patients not only adapt quickly to the technology but also come to expect and rely on it as part of their daily health routine.
The research aims to reform how cardiac rehabilitation is delivered nationally, making care more accessible, scalable and patient-centred.
This includes improving clinician training, standardising rehabilitation programs and implementing data systems to track outcomes.
Julie Redfern is Director of the Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare and Professor of Public Health at Bond University.