Research into heart disease and stroke will be the focus of a new $220 million, 10-year commitment announced by the Federal Government.

The funding, from the Medical Research Future Fund, will enable further research to improve health outcomes through prevention strategies, as well as earlier detection and improved outcomes for patients with for heart attack and stroke, Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

“It will aim to reduce hospitalisations, develop clinical trials and new drug therapies, use the unique DNA of a patient to develop new therapies and also look into why people who don’t lead an unhealthy lifestyle or have a genetic cause suffer heart attacks,” he said.

The co-called Mission for Cardiovascular Health will be overseen by an expert advisory panel chaired by Professor Gemma Figtree, Professor in Medicine at the University of Sydney and an interventional cardiologist at Royal North Shore Hospital.