Adrian Elliott

Dr Adrian Elliott

Ext-Funded Research Fellow (C)

School of Biomedicine

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

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

A/Prof Elliott is a nationally and internationally recognised leader in the field of cardiac arrhythmias. A/Prof Elliott holds a current National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship to support his work into atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). A/Prof Elliott has defined the role of physical inactivity as a risk factor for cardiac arrhythmias, and has led high-impact studies that show the contribution of exercise training to the management of patients with symptomatic AF. He is the principal investigator for the ongoing EXIT-AF randomised controlled trial into exercise rehabilitation following AF ablation.

More recently, A/Prof Elliott has co-led the LAST-AF study that defines the presence of subclinical heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), using a novel combination of invasive haemodynamic, electrophysiological and imaging parameters. This work has significant implications for the ongoing management of patients with AF.

A/Prof Elliott also leads a number of studies quantifying the mechanisms promoting arrhythmias in endurance athletes. He is the state-lead for the Pro@Heart study, a prospective cohort of current and former elite endurance athletes which will shed new light on the cardiac remodelling and development of arrhythmias in this cohort.

A/Prof Elliott leads an outstanding team of PhD students, cardiac technicians and postdoctoral researchers within the Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders. He has received >$4m in competitive grant finding over the past 5 years, has been invited to deliver talks (>25) at numerous national and international conferences, and is a senior investigator in multiple clinical trials including REDUCE-AF, PREDICT-STROKE, iCARE-AF.

A/Prof Elliott holds a continuing academic appointment in the School of Biomedicine at the University of Adelaide, and is a member of the Heart Health Executive at the South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).A/Prof Elliott also holds accreditation as a clinical accredited exercise physiologist (ESSA).

A/Prof Elliott leads an internationally recognised program of research with the following themes:

1. The role of exercise testing and interventions in patients with cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure and implanted devices.

2. The prevalence and mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias amongst endurance athletes.

3. The pathophysiological mechanisms promoting cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure.

AVAILABLE PROJECTS FOR PhD/HONOURS STUDENTS

Below is a list of several projects available within A/Prof Elliott's lab in the Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders. This list is not exhaustive and any prospective students should contact A/Prof Elliott in the first instance:

1. Presence of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction Amongst Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Using exercise-based imaging, blood sampling and direct measures of cardiac pressures, this project will explore the presence of undiagnosed heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) amongst patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing catheter ablation, and evaluates its subsequent impact on long-term outcomes.

Read more on this work here: https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jchf.2023.07.019

2. Benefits of Exercise-Based Interventions Amongst patients with Cardiac Arrhythmias and Implantable Cardiac Devices.

Although exercise training is clinically indicated amongst patients with heart failure, there is less information on the benefits of exercise amongst patients with cardiac arrhythmias and implantable cardiac devices, such as ICD's (implantable cardioverter defibrillator). This series of projects will explore the long term benefits of exercise in this cohort, with particular focus on outcomes including major cardiac events, cardiac function and quality of life.

Red more about our work on exercise interventions for cardiac arrhythmias, such as AF, here: https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacep.2022.12.002

3. Effect of Exercise on Left Atrial Electrical, Structural and Haemodynamic Parameters: Implications for AF, Heart Failure and Stroke

Adverse left atrial remodelling and left atrial dysfunction are implicated in the development of atrial arrhythmias, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and embolic stroke. This study will combine novel left atrial imaging from MRI and CT, with invasive assessment of atrial electrical and haemodynamic measures, to determine the response to exercise training amongst patients with existing disease (AF, heart failure) as well as endurance athletes who are predisposed towards AF.

To learn more about the impact of exercise training on the left atrium: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajpheart.00322.2023

A/Prof Elliott is supported by a Future Leader Fellowship from the National Heart Foundation and is based in the Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (University of Adelaide/Royal Adelaide Hospital/South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute). A/Prof Elliott is also an accredited clinical exercise physiologist (ESSA).

2021-2025: National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship

2023-2024: The Hospital Research Foundation Cardiovascular Project Grant

2017-2019: National Heart Foundation Early Career Fellowship

2018: National Heart Foundation Vanguard Project Grant

Foundations of Medicine

Medical Studies I

PHYSIOL 2510: Human Physiology IIA

PATHOL 3101: Essentials of Pathology

MBBS III: Research Placement

Hlth SC 3009: Research Placement

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2025 Co-Supervisor GEN-REF Study - Gender-based differences in referral to catheter ablation study Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Melanie Gunawardene
    2025 Principal Supervisor Treatment of Frailty and Comorbidities in Older Patients with Heart Rhythm Disorders Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jack Harry Wilde
    2025 Co-Supervisor The genetic basis of pathophysiological pathways in familial, early-onset atrial fibrillation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Justine Bhar-Amato
    2024 Co-Supervisor The role of continuous remote monitoring in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) Master Full Time Dr Mohamed Abdelmonim Abdelkarim Abbas
    2023 Principal Supervisor Efficacy of personalised exercise for the reduction of cardiovascular risk and primary prevention of cardiovascular disease Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Jenelle Kay Dziano
    2023 Principal Supervisor The effects of exercise-based rehabilitation on atrial fibrillation recurrence following catheter ablation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jackson Oliver Howie
    2023 Co-Supervisor Predict Stroke - Will closer/proper risk factor management in patients with previous stroke prevents them from getting another stroke? Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mohanaraj Jayakumar

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2020 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction in Atrial Fibrillation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Jonathan Ariyaratnam
    2019 - 2021 Principal Supervisor PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS IN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION INCIDENCE, PROGNOSIS AND PATOPHYSIOLOGY Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Ricardo Sadashi Mishima
    2017 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Exercise-Associated Cardiac Rhythm Disorders in Thoroughbred Racehorses Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Laura Catherine Nath
    2016 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Characterisation of Atrial Fibrillation Patients: Risk Factors, Progression, Gender and Thrombogenic Risk Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Melissa Middeldorp
    2016 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Exercise in Atrial Fibrillation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Christian Vincent Verdicchio

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2019 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Exercise, Atrial Fibrillation & Heart Failure University of Adelaide - Doctorate - Dr Ricardo Mishima

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2016 - ongoing Member National Research Committee Exercise & Sports Science Australia Australia

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2016 - ongoing Founder European Associated of Preventive Cardiology -
    2015 - ongoing Member Heart Rhythm Society United States
  • Position: Ext-Funded Research Fellow (C)
  • Phone: 81284648
  • Email: adrian.elliott@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83133356
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: SAHMRI, floor 8
  • Org Unit: Medical Sciences
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