Philanthropy – that is, the giving of time, influence, information, resources and/or money by organisations or individuals – underpins much of the medical research undertaken in Australia at any given time. While the Australian Government provide funding for medical research, there is fierce competition for the available dollars. This funding can also be restrictive, particularly for those researchers pushing the boundaries and challenging the traditional practice.

It is the generous donations researchers receive from philanthropic organisations and individuals, trusts and foundations, as well as corporate partnerships, that allow them to pursue research avenues that might be considered too ‘out of the box’ to be eligible for Government funding. Without this generosity, it would simply not be possible for researchers to have made the astounding progress they have made in the fight against so many diseases and health conditions. It is only through pushing the envelope and researching areas that haven’t been researched before, that we can make real scientific breakthroughs.

Australian researchers have been world leaders in breaking new ground in the understanding and treatment of hundreds of diseases, improving and saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of people over that time. Diseases researched in Australia include cancer, metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity, neurological diseases, osteoporosis, immunological diseases and many more.

Many of the major breakthroughs made in the country were funded by private donations. Donations, that allow scientists to continue contributing to the bank of knowledge which will ultimately lead to earlier diagnosis, better disease management, new therapies, and prevention and/or cure of many diseases.