Westmead Medical Research Foundation

Westmead Medical Research Foundation
Founded 20 November 1990 (1990-11-20)
Type Non-profit organization
Location
Coordinates 33°48′16″S 150°59′19″E / 33.8045°S 150.9886°E / -33.8045; 150.9886Coordinates: 33°48′16″S 150°59′19″E / 33.8045°S 150.9886°E / -33.8045; 150.9886
Area served
Predominately western Sydney
Key people
 Joseph Rizk OAM (President);
Joe Conneely (Head of Development)
Revenue
A$3 million (2016)[1]
Endowment A$11 million (2016)[1]
Website www.wmrf.org.au

The Westmead Medical Research Foundation (WMRF) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation which awards grants, provides fundraising support, and community advocacy for health care and medical research at Westmead[2] in the western suburbs of Sydney.

History

Westmead Medical Research Foundation was established in 1990 to support the care of sick children and adults and life-saving medical research. WMRF is based in Sydney's western suburbs.

A Board of Directors oversees the operations of the organisation. The current President is Joseph Rizk OAM, Managing Director, Arab Bank Australia.

A Scientific Advisory Committee oversees grant applications and makes recommendations about the merits of individual applications for funding.

Funding

The organisation grants approximately $3 million per annum across a variety of grant programs.

Equipment grants

Grants are awarded towards priority projects within Westmead Hospital that enhance services provided by doctors, nurses and allied health workers to patients and their families. Past equipment grants have been awarded to assist in the purchase of cutting-edge technology for the support of critically ill premature babies;[3] an interventional neuroradiology machine as a minimally invasive approach used in diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the head, neck, and spine such as cerebral aneurysms and strokes;[4]

Major medical research equipment grants made by the organisation have been awarded to further the aims of The Westmead Institute for Medical Research. Grants have been awarded for the purchase of a DNA sequencer and a Bead microarray system to assist with the understanding and identifying genetic markers that are associated with a variety of diseases, assisting in the prediction of individuals who may be more at risk to specific illnesses.[4] The organisation also assisted in the purchase of an equipment to perform Indirect Calorimetry in the Intensive Care Unit of Westmead Hospital, through a grant awarded in 2016.

Research grants

During 2016 the organisation awarded over $600,000 to support specific research projects, such as the transplantation of pancreatic islet cells to treat patients with type 1 diabetes; a study to provide objective biological markers to help in the diagnosis of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); a study to help understand the role of the ovarian hormones, estrogen and progesterone, that may lead to an increased risk of breast cancer; and a clinical research support program.[3][5][6]

Service grants

Grants are awarded to a variety of programs that provide direct patient benefits; such as a program that provides seriously ill patients and their families some respite from illness, enabling them to take a short vacation, without cost; a brand new bus run by volunteers to offer free transport for patients to and from their residence to local general practitioners or hospitals like Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Westmead; refurbishment of public rooms in the oncology/palliative care ward; and wheelchairs for use by patients within Westmead Hospital.

Infrastructure grants

The Foundation and its donors have also contributed funds to support major infrastructure projects on the Westmead health campus. The Westmead Institute for Medical Research is housed within a newly-built, best-practice building that encourages collaboration and is a lynchpin of research in the Westmead precinct. $9m was granted by Westmead Medical Research Foundation to the Institute to assist in the construction of this award-winning premises.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Annual Report" (PDF). Westmead Medical Research Foundation. 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  2. ↑ "How we help". Westmead Medical Research Foundation webpage. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Annual Report" (PDF). Westmead Medical Research Foundation. 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Annual Report" (PDF). Westmead Medical Research Foundation. 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Annual Review" (PDF). Westmead Medical Research Foundation. 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "Annual Report" (PDF). Westmead Medical Research Foundation. 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
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