A VIRAL TRIGGER FOR STROKE? Investigating Infection-Driven Vascular Events

There is mounting evidence that infections—including COVID-19, influenza, and herpes zoster—can sharply elevate the risk of stroke and other vascular events. These infections trigger a cascade of pathological responses, such as systemic inflammation, platelet hyperactivation, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiac arrhythmias, all of which contribute to increased vascular vulnerability. Understanding the magnitude of these risks and identifying preventive strategies is crucial to mitigating their impact on population health. With the power of Big Data, we now have an unprecedented opportunity to conduct large-scale, high-resolution studies that can robustly quantify these associations with superior statistical power and reliability. This research will generate real-world evidence to guide clinical decision-making and public health policies. The student will join the Big Data, Epidemiology and Prevention Division of the Stroke and Ageing Research (STAR) group at the Victorian Heart Hospital (Monash University) to: • Conduct a systematic review of epidemiological studies examining the link between infections and vascular events (Phase 1) • Harness Big Data to investigate the impact of recent infections on the risk of stroke and other major vascular events (Phase 2) • Analyse real-world data to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines (e.g., COVID-19, influenza) in preventing stroke and vascular complications (Phase 3) This project will equip the student with cutting-edge skills in pharmacoepidemiology, data science, and advanced statistical methodologies, contributing to the growing body of evidence on infection-related vascular risk and prevention strategies. With the support of the supervisory team, the student is expected to independently lead this innovative program of work. Each phase, will involve seeking ethics approval (as required), formulating novel research questions and hypotheses, developing a protocol with iterative feedback from supervisors and collaborators, collecting and analysing data, and preparing a scientific manuscript for submission to a leading medical journal. Following successful completion of each annual milestone review, the student will be required to submit a PhD thesis by publication. With supportive supervision, the student will develop the following skills and experience during the research program: • Public Health Research • Theoretical and practical knowledge of clinical trials and statistics • Ability to undertake a systematic review (and meta-analysis) • Publication in prominent scientific journals The project is most suitable for a PhD degree, however, modification to suit the requirements of a Masters by Research may be considered.