USC Clinical Trials is about to begin stage three of research into an experimental treatment that aims to improve the lives of those with diagnosed heart failure.

Heart failure is a serious chronic medical condition in which the heart doesn’t pump the blood as well as it should and can be due to narrowed/blocked arteries (coronary heart disease), high blood pressure or faulty heart values.

Sufferers are generally unable to safely perform the recommended intensity of exercise due to various symptoms. The treatment is looking to address the real unmet need for therapies that would improve the exercise ability for those who have experienced heart failure.

USC Clinical Trials Director Lucas Litewka said the trial would evaluate the effect of the medication on the exercise ability of heart failure patients using a six-minute walking test. The medication will be trialled over 12 weeks and require five visits to the centre.

Mr Litewka said the Sunshine Coast was well suited to this trial, as there were many people in the region who had experienced heart failure due to lifestyle factors.

He said the trial would be conducted alongside cardiologist Dr Peter Larsen at the Clinical Trials Centre on Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs.

Dr Larsen said there was a real unmet need for therapies that would improve the exercise ability for those who have experienced heart failure.

“This is a very exciting potential experimental therapy that has been undergoing clinical trials for several years now,” he said.

Adults over the age of 18 can take part in this trial if they have been medically diagnosed with heart failure for longer than three months. Participant eligibility will be determined by further study criteria that will be reviewed by the study doctor prior to any participation in the trial.

People interested in participating can go to usc.edu.au/trials or call (07) 5456 3797.