Centre of Research Excellence

The End Rheumatic Heart Disease Centre of Research Excellence (END RHD CRE) was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council in 2014.

Working as part of a national collaboration, the END RHD CRE has produced a costed, step-wise strategy to end rheumatic heart disease (RHD) as a public health priority in Australia. 

The END RHD CRE is the first time that any country has had an opportunity to build a comprehensive, evidence based strategy for ending rheumatic heart disease. The strategy includes an 11-year plan to achieve disease control by 2031, reducing the incidence of acute rheumatic fever and bringing the prevalence of RHD for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians down to the same level as non-Aboriginal Australians. This project represents a tremendous challenge and an untold opportunity to ‘close the gap’ and end the disparity for our Aboriginal communities.