Emeritus Professor Lawrence Beilin AO

Emeritus Professor Lawrence Beilin AO

Honorary Senior Research Fellow, The University of Western Australia

Research Overview

Emeritus Professor Beilin's research interests have encompassed three overlapping areas, all with extensive collaborations.

First, understanding the role of diet and lifestyle in prevention and management of high blood pressure and related cardiometabolic disease. This has involved the application of randomized controlled drug trial methods to studying effects of nutrition and lifestyle on risk factors for heart attack and stroke. Results of these studies have provided new evidence underpinning International Guidelines for Hypertension.

Second, studies of the developmental origins of cardiovascular disease focussing on the Raine Study pregnancy cohort. These studies have indicated how many of the origins of adult cardiovascular disease, diatbetes and obesity can be tracked back to maternal and fetal changes in pregnancy and to early childhood.  

Third, Emeritus Professor Beilin has had a longstanding involvement in two major trials of primary prevention trials (ASPREE and STAREE) of low dose aspirin and statins in the relatively healthy elderly. The main ASPREE International trial clearly demonstrated the in this age group low dose aspirin was associated with more risks than benefits, a landmark finding which has changed practice worldwide.