Rate My Professor James Chong

Professor James Chong is a professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, based at the Westmead Clinical School. He serves as an interventional cardiologist at Sydney's Westmead Hospital, Co-Director of the Centre for Heart Research at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, and Head of the Cardiac Regeneration Laboratory there. Chong holds an MBBS from the University of Sydney, a PhD from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute under the supervision of Professor Richard Harvey, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Washington in Seattle with Professor Charles Murry. He is also an Honorary Professor at the University of Queensland, Honorary Faculty Member at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Clinical Lead for Cardiovascular Research at Westmead Hospital, and Executive Committee Member at the Westmead Applied Research Centre.

His research specializes in heart regeneration and the therapeutic application of stem cells, coronary atherosclerosis and thrombosis, development of new therapies for heart disease, and the impact of the cardiac matrix on repair after myocardial infarction, particularly platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Notable publications include 'Human embryonic-stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes regenerate non-human primate hearts' (Nature, 2014), 'Adult cardiac-resident MSC-like stem cells with a proepicardial origin' (Cell Stem Cell, 2011), 'Platelet-derived growth factor-AB improves scar mechanics and vascularity after myocardial infarction' (Science Translational Medicine, 2020), and 'Tropoelastin improves post-infarct cardiac function by increasing scar elastin' (Circulation Research, 2023). Chong has secured more than $10 million in funding, including NHMRC/MRFF Investigator grants and Medical Research Future Fund projects. Awards include the 2024 Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Jian Zhou Medal, Fulbright Scholarship, Metcalf Prize for Stem Cell Research (2016), Alan Skyring Memorial Award (2019), and Early-Mid Career Fellowship (2018). He serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Centre for Commercialisation of Regenerative Medicine Australia and the Research Committee of the Australian Stroke and Heart Research Accelerator.