Primary Aldosteronism
Centre of Excellence

Associate Professor Jun Yang and clinical trial patient David

Primary aldosteronism is the most common, yet under-diagnosed, cause of hypertension

We are a team of world-renowned researchers and clinicians, working to help people with hypertension access a life-changing PA diagnosis and treatment

The Primary Aldosteronism Centre of Excellence (PACE) is a national collaboration with the aim of advancing primary aldosteronism research in Australia.

PACE is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council Centres of Research Excellence program.

This will be achieved by creating a sustainable research infrastructure fostering international collaborations, developing a multidisciplinary workforce in primary aldosteronism (PA), and solidifying Australia’s global leadership in addressing this public health challenge.

Outcomes from PACE will inform policy and clinical practice, enhancing patient care through evidence-based guidelines, healthcare education and consumer advocacy.

Vision

Our vision is to revolutionise the diagnosis and management of PA by conducting internationally pioneering research to improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of hypertension and chronic disease.

6 million Australians have hypertension (high blood pressure)

Six million Australians have hypertension (high blood pressure)

1 in 10 of them have Primary Aldosteronism

1 in 10 of them have Primary Aldosteronism.

PA us underdiagnosed but it can be effectively treated once identified.

PA is underdiagnosed but can be effectively treated once identified.

People with PA are at a higher risk of developing heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke.

People with PA are at a higher risk of developing heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke.

What is primary aldosteronism?

PA, an underdiagnosed cause of hypertension, results from excess aldosterone production by the adrenal glands. While crucial for salt balance, elevated levels of aldosterone can lead to excess salt and fluid retention and increased blood pressure. If undiagnosed, people with PA have an increased risk of strokes, heart attacks at a younger age and in some cases heart and kidney failure.

A simple blood test, the aldosterone to renin ration (ARR) is used to screen for this common, potentially curable condition, however it remains underutilised. By increasing awareness on the diagnosis and management of PA, PACE aims to improve patient outcomes by ameliorating the detrimental and debilitating long-term effects of undiagnosed PA.  

READ MORE | About PA’s signs and symptoms, causes, diagnosis and long-term effects.  

The goals of PACE are to

  • Identify the molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology of PA
  • Address barriers and implement targeted interventions to improve detection of PA in diverse healthcare settings
  • Implement scalable algorithms and cutting-edge technology for more reliable and accessible diagnoses of PA
  • Advance targeted treatment(s) for PA
  • Gain a greater understanding of the evolution of PA through the interrogation of large Australian patient cohorts across their lifespan.

Funding

The Primary Aldosteronism Centre of Excellence (PACE) is a five-year research program (2024-2028) funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centres of Research Excellence program and the Primary Aldosteronism Foundation.

  • EQUIPping tertiary care for the optimal diagnosis of PA (EQUIPPA)
  • A cluster-randomised controlled trial, implementing CONn Syndrome (primary aldosteronism) screening and Evaluation in Primary care (CONSEP)
  • A Randomised trial assessing the Efficacy and safety of Mineralocorticoid receptor Antagonist therapy compared to Standard antihypertensive Therapy in hypErtension with low Renin (REMASTER)

Contact

Primary Aldosteronism Centre of Excellence (PACE)
e: pace@hudson.org.au

To receive notifications on new clinical trials, the PACE annual newsletter or research funding opportunities (PhD scholarships, Fellowships, Travel Grants), please email pace@hudson.org.au.

­­­Our team of internationally recognised clinicians and researchers aims to rapidly expand research activities, generate new knowledge and lead the way in developing and implementing guidelines, policies and education platforms for primary aldosteronism (PA).

Professor Peter J. Fuller AM MBBS (Hons) BMedSc PhD FRACP

Head, Centre for Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hudson Institute, and Head, Endocrinology Unit, Monash Health, Victoria

Professor Fuller is an endocrinologist and nuclear receptor biologist in the fields of cardiovascular disease and cancer, who has made substantive contributions to our understanding of the mineralocorticoid receptor and the molecular aetiology, pathogenesis and treatment of endocrine cancers. As a co-director of PACE, he leads a collective effort to disseminate knowledge and implement change in the screening, diagnosis and management of PA.

Associate Professor Jun Yang MBBS (Hons) PhD FRACP

Head, Endocrine Hypertension Group, Hudson Institute and Head, Endocrine Hypertension Service, Monash Health, Victoria

Associate Professor Yang is an endocrinologist and clinician-scientist who is a research leader in the field of PA. Together with Prof Fuller, A/Prof Yang established the first Endocrine Hypertension Service in Victoria, integrating medical research with clinical practice. As a co-director of PACE, she leads a collective effort to disseminate knowledge and implement change in the screening, diagnosis and management of PA.

Professor Michael Stowasser MBBS (Hons) PhD FRACP FRCP Edin

Director, Endocrine Hypertension Research Centre, University of Queensland Frazer Institute, Queensland

Professor Stowasser has over 30 years of clinical research experience in the pathogenesis and management of PA.He is co-chairing the Endocrine Society PA Guideline Writing Group that is revising the international clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of PA. He has significant engagement with stakeholders necessary for translating the knowledge that is being generated across PACE into practice.

Professor Morag J. Young BSc (Hons) PhD

Head, Cardiovascular Endocrinology Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Victoria

Professor Young is a leading authority on the role of hormones in cardiovascular disease, with a particular focus on mineralocorticoid receptor pathophysiology. She is instrumental in developing novel diagnostic tools and preclinical mouse models for PA.

Professor Grant Russell MBBS FRACGP MFM PhD

Professor, Primary Care Research, Department of General Practice, and Director, Southern Academic Primary Care Research Unit, Monash University, Victoria

Professor Russell is an academic general practitioner who has led international teams generating policy advice on research capacity, the organisation of primary care, and the health of vulnerable groups. As part of PACE, he is building multifaceted behaviour change interventions and implementation programs to increase PA screening in general practice.

Dr StellaMay Gwini BSc (Hons) MSc PhD

Biostatistics Consultant, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Victoria

Dr Gwini is a biostatistician and research methodology consultant with many years of experience in different areas of medicine, health services and public health. She is providing guidance on robust statistical methods across the various programs in PACE.

Professor Christopher Reid BA Dip Ed MSc Cert Health Econ PhD FCSANZ FESC

Research Professor, School of Population Health, Curtin University and the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria

Professor Reid is a cardiovascular epidemiologist and clinical trialist. As an education leader, he is guiding the design and implementation of targeted education interventions for PA.

Professor Markus Schlaich MD FAHA FESC ISHF 

Dobney Chair in Clinical Research, Dobney Hypertension Centre, Medical School, Royal Perth Hospital Unit, The University of Western Australia, Western Australia

Professor Schlaich is a renal physician and a hypertension specialist with a strong background in clinical research. Through his role as President of Hypertension Australia and co-lead of the National Hypertension Taskforce, he is facilitating translation of the new knowledge derived in PACE by working closely with the government on policy and implementation.

Professor Trevor A. Mori BSc PhD MRACI CChem

Senior Principal Research Fellow, UWA Medical School, Internal Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Western Australia

Professor Mori leads the Cardiovascular Programme of the Raine Study, which is one of the largest and longest-running studies of human health from pregnancy into adulthood to be conducted anywhere in the world. As part of PACE, Professor Mori is leading the interrogation of the Raine Study to better understand the origins and natural history of PA.

Professor Gurmeet Singh MBBS MD PhD FRACP

Director, Life Course Studies, Menzies School of Health Research, Northern Territory

Professor Singh oversees the Aboriginal Birth Cohort (ABC), the longest and largest Indigenous Cohort in Australasia. She is leading and establishing a partnership with First Nations practitioners and communities to better understand the prevalence and clinical features of PA, and the response to targeted treatment of PA in First Nations peoples. 

Associate Investigators

Dr Marianne Leenaerts MHSA PhD

Professor Gang Chen BMed MSc PhD

Dr John Malios MBBS FRACGP MACLM

Professor Helen Skouteris  PhD FASSA

Associate Professor Julia Harrison MBBS (Hon) FACEM GCHPE

Professor William (Bill) Rainey PhD

Associate Professor Cherie Chiang MBBS (Hons) FRACP FRCPA MAACB MD FFSc

Associate Professor Damon Bell MB ChB PhD FRACP FFSc FRCPA FCSANZ

Professor Ute Scholl MD

Governance

Centre Steering Committee

The Centre Steering Committee is composed of the Chief Investigators and the PACE Project Officer, Dr Michelle Kouspou. This Committee is responsible to the Federal Government for delivering the activities of PACE.

International Advisory Board

The International Advisory Board is composed of world-leading researchers in adrenal hypertension and provides strategic guidance and expert advice, as well as an international perspective on the impact of PACE and opportunities for expanding collaborations.

Consumer Council

Through their lived experience, the Consumer Council provides a unique voice to inform research priorities, study design, evaluation, translation and dissemination of PACE research. Their valuable insights are critical to ensuring research is relevant, inclusive and effective in addressing patient needs and improving Australian health outcomes. The Consumer Council will also serve as an advocate for the implementation of research findings in clinical practice that will lead to changes and improvements in policy, guidelines and education for PA.

If you would like more information on the Consumer Council or would like to become a member of this committee, please contact pace@hudson.org.au.

Our PACE programs bring healthcare professionals, researchers, professional colleges and policy makers together to improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of hypertension and chronic disease for people with primary aldosteronism (PA).

Research aims

  • Optimise the timely and accurate diagnosis of PA through high quality, collaborative research and transformation of clinical practice guidelines and diagnostic methods
  • Identify genetic and environmental factors and novel biomarkers, that will underpin personalised diagnostic tests and therapeutics in the prevention and management of PA
  • Create translational research environments and develop clinical trial platforms to build the capacity for world-leading research in PA by Australian clinicians and scientists.
L-R: Professor Peter Fuller, Associate Professor Jun Yang

Research underway

Evaluation of barriers to PA diagnosis in primary and tertiary care

A Randomised trial assessing the Efficacy and safety of Mineralocorticoid receptor Antagonist therapy compared to Standard antihypertensive Therapy in hypErtension with low Renin (REMASTER)

Exploring the genetic basis of PA to enable personalised treatment

Generating new knowledge to enable early PA intervention

EQUIPping tertiary care for the optimal diagnosis of PA (EQUIPPA)

A cluster-randomised controlled trial, implementing CONn Syndrome (primary aldosteronism) screening and Evaluation in Primary care (CONSEP)

Our programs have been designed to have an impact on people with primary aldosteronism (PA) and drive changes in policy and practice.

Publications highlights

  • Ananda RA, Gwini S, Beilin LJ, Schlaich MP, Stowasser M, Young MJ, Adler B, Fuller PJ, Mori TA, Yang J. Relationship Between Renin, Aldosterone, Aldosterone-to-Renin Ratio and Arterial Stiffness and Left Ventricular Mass Index in Young Adults. Circulation. 2024 Oct 1. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.070039. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39351674.
  • Yang J, Bell DA, Carroll R, Chiang C, Cowley D, Croker E, Doery JCG, Elston M, Glendenning P, Hetherington J, Horvath AR, Lu-Shirzad S, Ng E, Mather A, Perera N, Rashid M, Sachithanandan N, Shen J, Stowasser M, Swarbrick MJ, Tan HLE, Thuzar M, Young S, Chong W. Adrenal Vein Sampling for Primary Aldosteronism: Recommendations From the Australian and New Zealand Working Group. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2024 Oct 3. doi: 10.1111/cen.15139. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39360599.

Research scholarships awarded

PACE supports PhD candidates, post-graduate and clinical fellowships to allow research and translation capacity-building in the field of PA. In 2024, two PACE scholarships were awarded.

Post-graduate Research

2024 PACE PhD scholar

Dr Muthanna Abdul Halim, University of Queensland, Primary supervisor – Professor Michael Stowasser

2024 PACE Post-doctoral fellow

Dr Moe Thuzar, University of Queensland, Primary supervisor – Professor Michael Stowasser

Past conferences and workshops

Inaugural NHMRC Centre of Excellence in Primary Aldosteronism Symposium

Title: Setting the PACE for primary aldosteronism research and practice

On Wednesday, 13 November 2024, PACE hosted its first inaugural NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Primary Aldosteronism Symposium at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

Experts from across Australia and New Zealand shared their practice pearls and clinical updates in the diagnosis and management of primary aldosteronism (PA), the most common endocrine cause of hypertension.

More than 160 clinicians, health professionals and researchers attended the Symposium, either in-person or virtually, to hear about the latest developments in the field.

Importantly, consumers living with PA shared their experiences of diagnosis and treatment, and highlighted some frustrations associated with the current clinical pathways.  They hope to enhance the diagnostic journey and improve outcomes for future patients with PA.

The interest and enthusiasm from delegates has been overwhelming and we are grateful to everyone who attended the Symposium. We are also grateful to our industry partners, Bayer, DiaSorin and Servier, for generously supporting the Symposium.

The full program of the Symposium can be accessed here | View Program

View WHAT’S ON in the menu above for details on upcoming PA Symposiums.  Please email pace@hudson.org.au with any enquiries.

Australia and New Zealand Primary Aldosteronism Forums

Wednesday, 9 October 2024.  The first Primary Aldosteronism (PA) Forum was held, via Zoom. The PA Forums are an opportunity for clinicians to discuss difficult or interesting PA cases in an effort to enhance the management of PA.

View WHAT’S ON in the menu above for details on upcoming PA Forums.  Please email pace@hudson.org.au with any enquiries.

PACE is committed to engaging healthcare professionals through targeted education and training on primary aldosteronism (PA) and promoting clinical trial involvement to improve patient care.

Endocrine Hypertension Clinics

If you have a patient who requires investigation for PA, please refer to your local endocrine clinic.

For further information, contact the following Endocrine Hypertension Clinics

Education and training

Primary Aldosteronism (PA) Symposium

Practice Pearls and Clinical Updates in Primary Aldosteronism
Held on Wednesday, 13 November 2024

The inaugural PA Symposium allowed multidisciplinary experts to share their practice pearls and clinical updates in the diagnosis and management of primary aldosteronism (PA), the most common endocrine cause of hypertension.

READ MORE > 

Australia and New Zealand Primary Aldosteronism Forums

The Primary Aldosteronism Forums (PA Forums) have been established to share and enhance best practice in the management of PA. The PA Forums are an opportunity for clinicians to present and discuss difficult or interesting PA cases.

View WHAT’S ON in the menu above for details on upcoming PA Forums, or if you would like to be included on the mailing list for the Primary Aldosteronism Forums, please contact pace@hudson.org.au.

Get involved

For more information on our projects or events, please email: pace@hudson.org.au

Endocrine Hypertension Clinics

If you have been diagnosed or are caring for someone with PA and require support, please contact your local endocrine clinic.

For further information contact the following Endocrine Hypertension Clinics

PA support group

The Conn’s/Hyperaldosteronism support group on Facebook is a valuable tool to help people dealing with PA. Most patients find it extraordinarily valuable, with many reporting that it offers life-saving advice and a supportive environment. Group members are encouraged to ask any question, no matter how simple or complex. The group’s mission is to provide understanding and support, encouraging members to ask questions without shame or hesitation. The moderators, founders and key support group members have the lived experience of being diagnosed with and treated for PA. In addition, some of these people have a science, research or medical background, and they have access to the most up-to-date information about PA.

Consumer Council

Through their lived experience, the Consumer Council provides a unique voice to inform research priorities, study design, evaluation, translation and dissemination of PACE research. Our Consumer Council works across PACE programs alongside our experts in PA to drive policy and changes in practice for the benefit of those living with PA.

If you would like more information on becoming a member of our Consumer Council and sharing your experience to help shape research and decision-making in PA, please contact pace@hudson.org.au.


Australia and New Zealand Primary Aldosteronism Forums

The Primary Aldosteronism (PA) Forums have been established to share and enhance best practice in the management of PA. The PA Forum is an opportunity for clinicians to present and discuss difficult or interesting PA cases.

The first PA Forum was held on Wednesday, 9 October 2024, via Zoom.

The next PA Forum will be advertised here once available.

If you would like to join the mailing list for the Primary Aldosteronism Forum or would like to submit a case for discussion, please email pace@hudson.org.au


Funding opportunities

PhD scholarships, post-graduate and clinical fellowships

PACE supports PhD candidates, Post-graduate and Clinical Fellowships to allow research and translation capacity-building in the field of PA.

Upcoming funding opportunities will be displayed on this page when open.

Travel grant applications for the inaugural NHMRC Centre of Excellence in Primary Aldosteronism Symposium are now closed.