Welcome boost for medical research

Welcome boost for medical research Stroke Foundation has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of a $437 million boost to health and medical research.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has funded 495 projects with the aim at delivering better medical diagnosis, treatment and care. This includes $58 million for cardiovascular disease research – stroke and heart disease.

This year’s grant recipients included four researchers previously funded by the Stroke Foundation’s own Research and Innovation program.

Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sharon McGowan said she was thrilled for recipients Professor Bruce Campbell, Associate Professor Jacqui Webster, Associate Professor Elif Ekinci and Professor Mark Parsons.

“The Stroke Foundation and our supporters are proud to have supported these researchers though our grants program and are excited to see them take their research skills to the next level,” Ms McGowan said.

The Stroke Foundation Research and Innovation Fund provides philanthropic grants to support Australian researchers to expand the knowledge and understanding about stroke.

Since 2008, more than $4.9 million in research grants has been awarded to more than 200 researchers.

“It is encouraging to see support from the Federal Government for research on stroke prevention and treatments,” Ms McGowan said.

“This research has the potential to provide fundamental information leading to some important and much-needed breakthroughs, which will improve quality of life.

“We know stroke can be prevented, treated and it can be beaten, but high quality evidence-based research holds the key.

“Previous research, paved the way for significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of acute stroke, resulting in a reduction in lives lost.

“But there is more work to do. The incidence of stroke continues to climb as our population grows and ages. The rate of stroke is also increasing in people of working age. We must continue research efforts to improve quality of life post-stroke and benefit future generations,” she said.

Ms McGowan also congratulated Stroke Foundation Health Promotion Advisory Committee chair Associate Professor Seana Gall on being funded in the NHMRC grant round.