Three South Australian medical research professors are set to receive a $1.4 million cash inject following a major investment and philanthropy conference held in Adelaide late last year.
Raised at the Sohn Hearts & Minds conference in Adelaide last November, the eventual sum is being divided between Professor Alex Brown, Professor Karen Reynolds, and Associate Professor Tim Sargeant.
Brown, who works for the Kids Research Institute Australia and Australian National University, will receive $830,000 to support his national Indigenous Genomics agenda, a program designed to deliver the benefits of genomics and precision medicine to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
“By putting the development of a precision medicine agenda in the hands of Indigenous peoples, we will see tangible outcomes which meet the health priorities of communities”, said Professor Brown.
$540,000 is being awarded to Professor Reynolds from Flinders University Medical Device Research Institute to continue the development of innovative solutions in the medical and allied health sector.
Professor Reynolds said “Thanks to Sohn Hearts & Minds’ generous donation, we will be able to advance our multidisciplinary research in medical devices and assistive technologies, fostering collaboration with industry and clinicians to develop innovative solutions that improve patient care and wellbeing.”
Sargeant, from SA Health and Medical Research Institute, will receive the remaining $100,000 to continue his research on the role of autophagy and lysosomal recycling in common age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
“This support is essential, as age-related diseases such as dementia and heart disease are the leading causes of death in Australia”, said Associate Professor Sargeant.
This funding comes as a result of the Sohn Hearts & Minds conference in Adelaide last November. Sohn Hearts & Minds, Australia’s premier investment and philanthropy event, was held in South Australia for the first time since its launch in 2016.
Leading international and local fund managers and global thought leaders gathered at Adelaide’s Festival Theatre for the one-day event, where they presented their exclusive investment ideas and insights in a fast-paced, TED-style format.
With over 600 attendees that represented more than $1 trillion worth of investment and funds under management, the conference program included discussion panels with themes such as space, AI, and insights from South Australian experts.
The event has previously been held in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart, and has raised over $78 million alongside its philanthropic investment company, Hearts and Minds Investments Limited. The conference has hosted 209 speakers and been attended by more than 7800 people.
“We’re proud to support these brilliant minds as they push the boundaries of discovery and impact”, said Maggie O’Neill from Sohn Hearts & Minds.
“These projects have the potential to drive meaningful change – through cutting-edge medical devices, advancing precision medicine for Indigenous communities, and deepening our understanding of neurodegenerative disease.”
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