Dr. Ying Amanda Wang is a research fellow in the Renal and Metabolic Division in The George Institute. She is also a consultant nephrologist and general physician. After completion of her PhD at the University of Sydney, she continues clinical research at the George Institute, supported by a John Chalmer’s Post-doctoral Research Fellowship. Amanda is interested in acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, dialysis therapy, and musculoskeletal health in patients with kidney disease.

Professor Rodgers has a track record in cardiovascular disease prevention, innovation and public-private partnerships, with an interest in scale-able interventions to address major risks to health. He is currently Acting Director of the Cardiovascular Division at The George Institute, Australia and Chair of Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of London.

After graduating in medicine in the United Kingdom he trained in epidemiology and public health in New Zealand. He was the Principal Author of the 2002 World Health Report, the main annual publication for WHO. Professor Rodgers has led developments of an affordable four-in-one cardiovascular combination pill ('polypill'). He led a clinical trial program in economically developed and developing countries, funded by the Wellcome Trust, European Union and others.  

Professor Rodgers also developed a world first cell phone based smoking cessation programme for youth, which disseminated proven health support messages in an age-appropriate, affordable medium.  Over 6,000 patients were involved in clinical trials that demonstrated a 50% increase in quit rates. The service has been rolled out by Departments of Health in NZ, UK and India, with over 2 million users to date. A follow-on program delivering cognitive behavioural therapy for depression prevention was successfully trialled among 1,200 at-risk teenagers.

Professor Anushka Patel is CEO and Director of The George Institute for Global Health and Scientia Professor at UNSW, Sydney. She is a cardiologist with research interests in the prevention and management of common chronic conditions through large-scale clinical trials and implementation science. 

Anushka undertook her medical training at the University of Queensland, with subsequent postgraduate research degrees from Harvard University and University of Sydney. Anushka is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and is a Director and Trustee of the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute.