Cher-Rin Chong

Research Interests

Cardiology Cell Metabolism Cell Physiology Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Endocrinology & Metabolism Metabolic Medicine

Dr Cher-Rin Chong

NHMRC Externally-Funded Research Fellow

School of Medicine

College of Health

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

My research background: After graduating from pharmacy, I worked at community pharmacies in Goolwa, Port Pirie and Elizabeth, before transitioned to clinical pharmacy at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in South Australia. Whilst I enjoyed my clinical work, I knew I wanted more - to try to fill the knowledge gap, to understand the underlying mechanisms, the basis of therapeutic selection, and many others. This led to an eventual PhD in cardiovascular pharmacology, focusing on how the process of energy generation affects cardiac function, supervised by Professors John Horowitz and Betty Sallustio. By the end of my PhD, I became hooked on the pursuit of new knowledge, and the fact that this may be used to advance health makes this job seems even more gratifying. So when the opportunity arised, I undertook immediate postdoctoral training in the labs of Professors Kieran Clarke and Rhys Evans (Oxford, UK), where I further my training in physiological biochemistry and cardiac metabolism. I returned to Adelaide in late 2019 to set up my own research program. 

Research approach: My research adopts a translational "bedside-to-bench, and back to bedside again" approach. My collaborators and I use pre-clinical models and clinical samples obtained from patients where we measure molecular and physiological changes, and correlate with clinical outcomes. We are particularly keen in applying the knowledge gained towards developing targeted therapeutics and improving health outcomes.

Current research directions: The overall goal of my current research undertakings is to develop effective strategies to detect, treat, and manage heart failure in people living with diabetes, inflammatory or metabolic disorders. In recent years, I have also become increasingly interested in the nexus of interactions between heart failure, diabetes and cancer, which are surprisingly linked to one another.  

Joining the lab: I am always on the lookout for enthusiastic, curious, driven and motivated students or postdocs to join the lab. Recruitment for research degree graduates (honour's, Master's and PhD), as well as scholarship application, will be conducted via the University's programs. Please be familiar with the application process. If you meet the eligibility criteria, please email me a copy of your CV, detailing your undergraduate achievement and research experience to discuss potential research projects. Please note that only selected students who may fit University's selection criteria will be invited for interview.
For postdoctoral researcher, I will provide support for application to fellowship programs. If you are interested, please reach out to discuss potential project and application, along with a copy of your CV.

 

 

Date Position Institution name
2019 - ongoing Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Adelaide
2016 - 2019 Nuffield Medical Fellow University of Oxford
2012 - 2016 NHMRC Dora Lush PhD candidate University of Adelaide
2008 - 2016 Rotating pharmacist, Pharmacist registrar, Senior pharmacist The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, SA Department of Health
2007 - 2008 Intern pharmacist & Pharmacist-in-charge Community pharmacies

Language Competency
Chinese (Cantonese) Can read, write, speak and peer review
Chinese (Mandarin) Can read, write, speak and peer review
English Can read, write, speak and peer review
Malay Can read, write and speak

Date Institution name Country Title
University of Adelaide Australia Ph.D.
University of South Australia Australia Bachelor of Pharmacy

Year Citation
2023 Kadir, A. A., Stubbs, B. J., Chong, C. -R., Lee, H., Cole, M., Carr, C., . . . Clarke, K. (2023). On the interdependence of ketone body oxidation, glycogen content, glycolysis and energy metabolism in the heart. The Journal of Physiology, 601(7), 1207-1224.
DOI Scopus19 WoS17 Europe PMC21
2022 Chong, C. -R., Liu, S., Imam, H., Heresztyn, T., Sallustio, B. C., Chirkov, Y. Y., & Horowitz, J. D. (2022). Perhexiline Therapy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Incremental Insulin Resistance despite Potentiation of Nitric Oxide Signaling. Biomedicines, 10(10), 2381-1-2381-10.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2021 Ong, G. J., Nguyen, T. H., Kucia, A., Liu, S. -F., Surikow, S. Y., Girolamo, O., . . . Horowitz, J. D. (2021). Takotsubo syndrome: Finally emerging from the shadows?. Heart Lung and Circulation, 30(1), 36-44.
DOI Scopus13 WoS13 Europe PMC9
2021 Yurista, S. R., Chong, C. -R., Badimon, J. J., Kelly, D. P., de Boer, R. A., & Westenbrink, B. D. (2021). Therapeutic potential of ketone bodies for patients with cardiovascular disease: JACC focus seminar. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 77(13), 1660-1669.
DOI Scopus176 WoS164 Europe PMC155
2021 Chong, C. -R., Liu, S., Imam, H., Heresztyn, T., Sallustio, B., Chirkov, Y. Y., & Horowitz, J. D. (2021). Perhexiline Therapy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Dissociation Between Potentiation of Nitric Oxide Signalling and Changes in Insulin Resistance.
DOI
2020 Horowitz, J. D., & Chong, C. -R. (2020). Matrix metalloproteinase-2 activation: critical to myocardial contractile dysfunction following ischaemia-reperfusion.. Cardiovascular research, 116(5), 876-878.
DOI Scopus3 WoS1 Europe PMC3
2020 Liu, S., Ngo, D., Chirkov, Y., Stansborough, J., Chong, C., & Horowitz, J. D. (2020). Prolonged suppression of the anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory effects of BNP post-Takotsubo syndrome. ESC Heart Failure, 7(5), 2250-2257.
DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC4
2019 Roberts, G., Chong, C. R., Quinn, S., Cameron-Collins, S., Forbes, H., Johnson, J. L., . . . Wisdom, A. (2019). Evaluation of the effect of direct oral anticoagulant availability on hospital presentations for bleeding related to oral anticoagulation in South Australia. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 49(6), 517-524.
DOI
2019 Imam, H., Nguyen, T. H., De Caterina, R., Nooney, V. B., Chong, C. R., Horowitz, J. D., & Chirkov, Y. Y. (2019). Impaired adenylate cyclase signaling in acute myocardial ischemia: Impact on effectiveness of P2Y<inf>12</inf> receptor antagonists. Thrombosis Research, 181, 92-98.
DOI Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC5
2019 Drury, N. E., Yim, I., Patel, A. J., Oswald, N. K., Chong, C. -R., Stickley, J., & Jones, T. J. (2019). Cardioplegia in paediatric cardiac surgery: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, 28(1), 144-150.
DOI Scopus19 WoS14 Europe PMC11
2018 Timm, K. N., Apps, A., Miller, J. J., Ball, V., Chong, C. R., Dodd, M. S., & Tyler, D. J. (2018). Assessing the optimal preparation strategy to minimize the variability of cardiac pyruvate dehydrogenase flux measurements with hyperpolarized MRS. NMR in Biomedicine, 31(9), e3992.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC4
2018 Ajaero, C., Chong, C. -R., Procter, N., Liu, S., Chirkov, Y., Heresztyn, T., . . . Horowitz, J. (2018). Does cardiac resynchronization therapy restore peripheral circulatory homeostasis?. ESC heart failure, 5(1), 129-138.
DOI Scopus1 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2018 Drury, N. E., Patel, A. J., Oswald, N. K., Chong, C. -R., Stickley, J., Barron, D. J., & Jones, T. J. (2018). Randomized controlled trials in children’s heart surgery in the 21st century: a systematic review. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 53(4), 724-731.
DOI Scopus23 WoS21 Europe PMC20
2017 Chong, C. -R., Clarke, K., & Levelt, E. (2017). Metabolic remodelling in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Cardiovascular Research, 113(4), 422-430.
DOI Scopus135 WoS120 Europe PMC105
2016 Chong, C., Sallustio, B., & Horowitz, J. (2016). Drugs that Affect Cardiac Metabolism: focus on Perhexiline. Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy, 30(4), 399-405.
DOI Scopus27 WoS24 Europe PMC23
2016 Chong, C., Ong, G., & Horowitz, J. (2016). Emerging drugs for the treatment of angina pectoris. Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs, 21(4), 365-376.
DOI Scopus15 WoS12 Europe PMC10
2016 Phuong, H., Choi, B., Chong, C., Raman, B., & Horowitz, J. (2016). Can perhexiline be utilized without long-term toxicity? A clinical practice audit. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, 38(1), 73-78.
DOI Scopus15 WoS13 Europe PMC14
2015 Procter, N. E., Ball, J., Heresztyn, T., Nooney, V. B., Liu, S., Chong, C. -R., . . . Horowitz, J. D. (2015). Subtle renal dysfunction and bleeding risk in atrial fibrillation: symmetric dimethylarginine predicts HAS-BLED score.. American journal of cardiovascular disease, 5(2), 101-109.
WoS1
2015 Chong, C., Drury, N., Licari, G., Frenneaux, M., Horowitz, J., Pagano, D., & Sallustio, B. (2015). Stereoselective handling of perhexiline: implications regarding accumulation within the human myocardium. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 71(12), 1485-1491.
DOI Scopus11 WoS9 Europe PMC7
2015 Horowitz, J., Chong, C., Ngo, D., & Sverdlov, A. (2015). Effects of acute hyperglycaemia on cardiovascular homeostasis: Does a spoonful of sugar make the flow-mediated dilatation go down?. Journal of Thoracic Disease, 7(12), 607-611.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC4
2015 Chong, C., Liu, S., Licari, G., Heresztyn, T., Chirkov, Y., Ngo, D., & Horowitz, J. (2015). Reversal of hyperglycemia: effects on nitric oxide signaling. American Journal of Medicine, 128(4), 427-430.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC5
2015 Singh, K., Chong, C. R., Nguyen, T. H., Stansborough, J., & Horowitz, J. D. (2015). Reply: Takotsubo syndrome is a systemic, rather than merely a cardiac, disease: Possible effects on the systemic and pulmonary vasculature. Heart Lung and Circulation, 24(4), 417-418.
DOI
2015 Liu, S., Ngo, D., Chong, C., Amarasekera, A., Procter, N., Licari, G., . . . Horowitz, J. (2015). Suppression of neutrophil superoxide generation by BNP is attenuated in acute heart failure: a case for 'BNP resistance'. European Journal of Heart Failure, 17(5), 475-483.
DOI Scopus15 WoS14 Europe PMC13
2015 Angus, D., Barnato, A., Bell, D., Bellomo, R., Chong, C., Coats, T., . . . Young, J. (2015). A systematic review and meta-analysis of early goal-directed therapy for septic shock: the ARISE, ProCESS and ProMISe Investigators. Intensive Care Medicine, 41(9), 1549-1560.
DOI Scopus308 WoS272 Europe PMC240
2014 Procter, N., Chong, C., Sverdlov, A., Chan, W., Chirkov, Y., & Horowitz, J. (2014). Aging of platelet nitric oxide signaling: pathogenesis, clinical implications, and therapeutics. Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis, 40(6), 660-668.
DOI Scopus14 WoS13 Europe PMC9
2014 Chong, C., Chan, W., Nguyen, T., Liu, S., Procter, N., Ngo, D., . . . Horowitz, J. (2014). Thioredoxin-interacting protein: pathophysiology and emerging pharmacotherapeutics in cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy, 28(4), 347-360.
DOI Scopus79 WoS76 Europe PMC70
2014 Drury, N., Licari, G., Chong, C., Howell, N., Frenneaux, M., Horowitz, J., . . . Sallustio, B. (2014). Relationship between plasma, atrial and ventricular perhexiline concentrations in humans: insights into factors affecting myocardial uptake. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 77(5), 789-795.
DOI Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC9
2014 Singh, K., Neil, C., Nguyen, T., Stansborough, J., Chong, C., Dawson, D., . . . Horowitz, J. (2014). Dissociation of early shock in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy from either right or left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Heart, Lung and Circulation, 23(12), 1141-1148.
DOI Scopus27 WoS25 Europe PMC23
2013 Chong, C. R., Neil, C. J., Nguyen, T. H., Singh, K., & Horowitz, J. D. (2013). Reply. Clinical Cardiology, 36(10), E33.
DOI
2013 Chong, C. R., & Horowitz, J. D. (2013). Letters to the editor. Clinical Cardiology, 36(8), 492-493.
DOI
2013 Chong, C., Neil, C., Nguyen, T., Stansborough, J., Law, G., Singh, K., & Horowitz, J. (2013). Dissociation between severity of takotsubo cardiomyopathy and presentation with shock or hypotension. Clinical Cardiology, 36(7), 401-406.
DOI Scopus44 WoS40 Europe PMC38
2012 Neil, C., Chong, C., Nguyen, T., & Horowitz, J. (2012). Occurrence of Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy in association with ingestion of serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors. Heart, Lung & Circulation (Print Edition), 21(4), 203-205.
DOI Scopus46 WoS40 Europe PMC32
2012 Neil, C., Nguyen, T., Sverdlov, A., Chirkov, Y., Chong, C., Stansborough, J., . . . Horowitz, J. (2012). Can we make sense of takotsubo cardiomyopathy? An update on pathogenesis, diagnosis and natural history. Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy, 10(2), 215-221.
DOI Scopus20 WoS14 Europe PMC13

Year Citation
2020 Kadir, A. A., Chong, C., Clarke, K., & Evans, R. (2020). Anaplerosis from asparagine increases ketone oxidation in isolated rat hearts in the absence of pyruvate precursors. In JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR CARDIOLOGY Vol. 140 (pp. 33). PEOPLES R CHINA, Beijing: ELSEVIER SCI LTD.
DOI WoS1
2018 Chong, C. R., Hill, T., Kadir, A. B., Timm, K. N., Kerr, M., Dearlove, D., . . . Clarke, K. (2018). Novel dietary ketone ester lowers fasting blood glucose levels in Zucker diabetic fatty rats. In JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR CARDIOLOGY Vol. 120 (pp. 26-27). ELSEVIER SCI LTD.
DOI
2017 Chong, C. -R., Imam, H., Sallustio, B., Chirkov, Y. Y., & Horowitz, J. D. (2017). Perhexiline enhances cGMP- and cAMP-signaling in diabetics independent of insulin sensitization and ACE inhibition. In EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL Vol. 38 (pp. 1143). OXFORD UNIV PRESS.
2015 Chong, C. -R., Stansbourough, J., Raman, B., Nguyen, T. H., Neil, C. J., & Horowitz, J. D. (2015). Determinants of shock and mortality in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: a cohort study. In EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL Vol. 36 (pp. 1177-1178). London, ENGLAND: OXFORD UNIV PRESS.

Year Citation
2015 Liu, S., Ngo, D. T., Chong, C. R., Chan, W. P., Horowitz, J. D., & Chirkov, Y. Y. (2015). Tachyphylaxis to the anti-inflammatory effects of BNP in acute heart failure:-potential response to therapy. Poster session presented at the meeting of EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HEART FAILURE. WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2013 Horowitz, J., Nguyen, T., Neil, C., Singh, K., Chong, C., Licari, J., & Raman, B. (2013). Stress cardiomyopathy: new clinical and pathogenetic insights. Poster session presented at the meeting of Abstracts of the 10th International Congress on Coronary Artery Disease (ICCAD), as published in Cardiology. Florence, Italy: Karger.
DOI
2013 Licari, G., Singh, K., Chong, C., Thanh, N., Chapman, M., Stafford, I., . . . Horowitz, J. (2013). Increased myocardial expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein, and evidence of nitrosative stress in a rat model of Tako-Tsubo Cardiomyopathy. Poster session presented at the meeting of Abstracts of the American Heart Association 2013 Scientific Sessions and Resuscitation Science Symposium, as publshed in Circulation. Dallas, TX: Amercian Heart Association.
2013 Chong, C., Liu, S., Licari, G., Chirkov, Y., Ngo, D., & Horowitz, J. (2013). Reversal of acute hyperglycemia restores tissue responsiveness to nitric oxide and improves endothelial progenitor cell function without downregulating platelet thioredoxin interacting protein. Poster session presented at the meeting of Abstracts of the American Heart Association 2013 Scientific Sessions and Resuscitation Science Symposium, as publshed in Circulation. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association.

 

Project or equipment funding:
Year funded Role Funding body & project Amount funded
2024 CIA MRFF Targeted Translation Research Accelerator - Cardiovascular disease and diabetes mechanism. "Diabetic heart failure: the role of microvascular glycocalyx" $999,536
2023 CIA Foundation for high blood pressure research, seed funding.  $20,000
2022 CIA Basil Hetzel Institute/The Hospital Research Foundation, equipment grant, for the purchase of Vevostrain USD$20,000
2020 CIA Diabetes SA, project grant. "Novel strategy for cardiovascular protection in Type 2 diabetes" $100,000
2018 CIB Oxford British Heart Foundation CRE (UK), pump priming grant £12,282.40

 

Fellowship/scholarship/research recognition: 
2019 Heart Foundation of Australia Postdoctoral Fellowship (co-funded with NHMRC)  
2019 NHMRC Peter Doherty Fellowship  
2019 The Hospital Research Foundation, Early Career Fellowship (awarded but did not accept) -
2016

University of Oxford (UK), Nuffield Medical Fellowship 

only 2 out of 3 rotating countries were awarded each year. I was the only awardee from Australia

  
2014 NHMRC Dora Lush Biomedical Research Postgraduate Scholarship  
2014 CSANZ Affiliate Clinical Development Award, Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ)   
2014 Travelling fellowship, CSANZ  
2013 Travelling fellowship, CSANZ  
2011 - 13 Student travel grant, Australasian Society of Clinical & Experimental Pharmacologists & Toxicologists  
2005 Student Vacation Scholarship, The Cancer Council of Australia  

 

Cher-Rin is involved in the supervision of research placements for third year biomedical students.

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 Principal Supervisor Modulation of cellular function via different substrate transport across the mitochondrial membrane: physiological and pathophysiological implications for heart disease. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Xiaojing Wang
2025 Principal Supervisor The integrity of endothelial glycocalyx and platelet responses in normal ageing and cardiovascular disease Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Beidong Huang
2025 Principal Supervisor Basis for microvascular dysfunction and its nexus of interactions with cardiac function Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jiunn Jye Tan
2025 Principal Supervisor The integrity of endothelial glycocalyx and platelet responses in normal ageing and cardiovascular disease Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Beidong Huang
2025 Principal Supervisor Modulation of cellular function via different substrate transport across the mitochondrial membrane: physiological and pathophysiological implications for heart disease. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Xiaojing Wang
2025 Principal Supervisor Basis for microvascular dysfunction and its nexus of interactions with cardiac function Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jiunn Jye Tan

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2022 - 2025 Principal Supervisor Diabetic Cardiomyopathy: Pathogenetic and Therapeutic Investigations in a Rodent Model Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Getandale Zeleke Negera

Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
2024 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Cardiovascular ageing and thrombotic risk: the integrity of the endothelial glycocalyx barrier and platelet responses as we age The University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Thuy Tran
2023 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Ageing of anti-aggregatory autacoid signalling: normal fluctuations and variability in Takotsubo syndrome The University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Indy Anna Joy Lawrie
2020 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Novel treatment to prevent cardiovascular disease in Type 2 diabetes The University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Emily Kovacev

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2023 - ongoing Member Policy Committee Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research Australia
2022 - ongoing Member Research advisory committee Diabetes SA Australia
2021 - 2023 Member Emerging Leaders Committee Australian Cardiovascular Alliance Australia
2020 - ongoing Member Management Committee Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research Australia
2020 - 2020 Member Bliss Adelaide Bliss Australia

Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
2020 - ongoing Member Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy - United States

Date Title Type Institution Country
2021 - ongoing Project grant Grant Assessment Diabetes UK United Kingdom
2020 - ongoing Project grant Grant Assessment The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research & Development Netherlands
2020 - 2021 Postgraduate scholarship; Project grant Grant Assessment Heart Foundation Australia
2019 - ongoing Project grant Grant Assessment Health Research Council New Zealand
2015 - ongoing Ideas grant; Investigator grant; Development grant; Project grant Grant Assessment NHMRC Australia

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