Record injection of funds for chronic disease research

Fifty research projects tackling Australia’s most prevalent chronic illnesses will benefit from a $2.9 million injection of funds from The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation.

TPCH Foundation Board Member Peter Tyquin and Director of Metro North Research Prof Scott Bell congratulate Amanda Corley (member of CCRG) and Dr Rachael O’Rourke (Director of Medical Imaging) on their success in the Innovation and Building Capacity grant category.

The funding round is the largest in the Foundation’s 30 year history and was made through its community initiative The Common Good.

The Foundation’s CEO Michael Hornby said the research teams are working on critical developments in early disease detection, better treatments and improved recovery for patients.

“We want to give chronic disease sufferers back their quality of life,” Mr Hornby said.

“With this funding, we are not only tackling chronic disease, we’re tackling the serious ‘brain drain’ researchers face around the world due to lack of funding.

“Young researchers bring with them a range of new ideas and innovations, but increasingly these brilliant minds are being lost as they aren’t able to find the support or funding needed to launch their research careers.

“Today’s funding announcement is based on a fantastic positive response from the public to The Common Good, – people in our community who have said ‘Yes’ to backing these brilliant researchers and scientists.”

Included in the research is the world’s largest study on cardiac imaging. More than 4,000 people will take part in a study to develop new, safer and cheaper techniques to diagnose heart disease. As Australia’s biggest killer improved diagnosis will enable earlier and more detailed treatments to be implemented. The aim is to provide access to the research that will help facilities in remote locations and will also reduce the use of needles or radiation.

The research covers:

• 16 projects focussed on heart disease, the number 1 killer in Australia,
• 13 projects tackling life-threatening lung disease,
• 3 projects to improve the quality of life of the 1.8 million arthritis sufferers in throughout Australia,
• and various projects focussed on stroke, blood, liver disease and more.