The book on miscarriage the Victorian Women’s Trust knew had to be written
Around 285 pregnancies result in miscarriage each day in Australia – or around one every five minutes. It’s an extraordinary figure and yet the most common complication associated with childbirth is shrouded in silence, and unfortunately shame, for many of the thousands of affected families. Author Isabelle Oderberg has set out to change some of the perceptions around this all-too-common experience in her book Hard to Bear, the writing of which was supported by philanthropy.
Read moreHow impact investment is making a difference in global health equity
Impact investing is playing a critical and growing role in the development of medicines to treat ‘neglected diseases’ affecting the world’s poorest and most underserved peoples. These medicines would not otherwise be developed by the pharmaceutical industry, which is primarily driven by financial returns. Here, Mark Sullivan AO, founder and managing director of Medicines Development for Global Health, an Australian biopharmaceutical not-for-profit, describes how this finance model is supporting the development of Moxidectin – a potential gamechanger for the WHO’s roadmap to ending river blindness by 2030.
Snow Medical to revolutionise immunology research globally with $100 million gift
In one of the largest and longest-running philanthropic partnerships in Australian history, the Snow Medical Research Foundation (Snow Medical) announced this week that it will work with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute to establish one of the world’s leading immunology research centres with an initial commitment of $100 million over 10 years. It will be called the Snow Centre for Immune Health, and the emphasis of the funding is to create the long-term capacity to allow scientists to pursue bold research programs. Ongoing investments are expected beyond 10 years.
Professor Ian Frazer backs double giving, saying philanthropy supports breakthrough research: video
One of Australia’s leading medical researchers, Professor Ian Frazer AC, who co-invented the cervical cancer vaccine, has joined with Philanthropy Australia to call for the nation to double charitable giving to medical research by 2030 from $1.5 billion to $3 billion. Philanthropy Australia has launched a new video telling the story of how philanthropy underpinned virtually all of Professor Frazer's early work.
Reflections about medical research: philanthropy’s role
This week, Philanthropy Australia hosted a roundtable event with special guest Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert from the University of Oxford. Professor Gilbert is the co-developer of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and she spoke about philanthropy’s role in funding medical breakthroughs. Mary Chackola, Philanthropy Australia’s National Engagement Manager for Victoria and Tasmania, reflects on the discussion.
Victoria launches ‘Lifeline Narrm’ to support community in crisis
Lifeline Narrm, launched yesterday as an urgent call to action to address Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention for all Victorians.
Thousands of our most vulnerable denied COVID anti-virals
Up to four times as many women live with complex myalgic encephalomyelitis and thousands living with the condition are refused COVID-19 anti-virals.