Dr Alasdair Watson received a training and innovation grant from the Victor Chang Foundation in 2015/2016

He said:

 “My grant allowed me to undertake post-fellowship training at St Paul’s Hospital / University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada – considered to be the world’s leading institution  for transcatheter heart valve implantation (TAVI),* as well as heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support, and laser lead extraction. The overseas training I received has been invaluable, enabling me to introduce the use of a miniature heart pump (Impella) used to treat patients with acute heart failure. I have also been able to establish new protocols for the intensive care management of patients in the early post-heart transplant period, as well as establishing, for the first time, a program of laser extraction of failed or infected pacemaker and defibrillator leads at St Vincent’s Hospital.”