University of Sydney researchers to receive $365K in grants from Ramaciotti Foundations

The Ramaciotti Foundations awarded $364,490 in grants to the University of Sydney to support continued outstanding biomedical research, at a gala dinner last week.

The Ramaciotti Foundations awarded Establishment & Equipment Grants of over $1.6 million to 22 recipients at the annual awards evening in Melbourne.

The University of Sydney received five grants:

• Dr Anne Cust, from the Sydney School of Public Health received an establishment grant of $75,000 to study the genetic risk factors for melanoma, and determine how small changes to a person’s genetic code influence their melanoma risk.
• Dr Kate Edwards from the Exercise & Sport Science Department received an establishment grant of $74,990, to study the effects of exercise as a way to boost the influenza vaccine response in elderly people.
• Professor Robert Baxter from the Kolling Institute of Medical Research received an equipment grant of $75, 000, towards the purchase of an IncuCyte FLR Microscope System and Cell Incubator. The equipment, which measures the growth and movement of cells in culture, will be used by several research groups to study growth and metastasis of cancer cells, the movement of cells during wound healing, and the factors that regulate the growth and health of the developing human foetus.
• Professor Peter McCluskey, from the Save Sight Institute, received an equipment grant of $64,500, to purchase a MACSQuant Analyzer, used to characterize stem cells before they can be used as cell therapy for many diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy.
• Professor Michael Peek, from Sydney Medical School Nepean, received a $75, 000 equipment grant for a Flow Cytometer, used to study cells of the immune system. The equipment will benefit four areas of medical research: Infection and Immunological conditions; chronic disease and aging; reproductive; maternal and child health; and cancer.

Collectively, the Ramaciotti Foundations are one of the largest private contributors to biomedical research in Australia, having granted more than $51 million to research projects since 1970.

Andrew Thomas, General Manager, Philanthropy, Perpetual said “The Ramaciotti Foundations Establishment Grants support emerging researchers early in their career, often enabling them to buy equipment or start a project that can be critical to the future success of their research. The Equipment Grants go towards the purchase of a major piece of equipment to allow researchers to move forward in their specialties.”
“As a private contributor to biomedical research, the Ramaciotti Foundations have the ability to support early stage or ‘out of the box’ research that may not attract mainstream funding. In doing so, they play a critical role in the advancement of biomedical science in Australia.”

Mr Thomas said forward-thinking philanthropist Vera Ramaciotti made a significant and lasting contribution to the Australian scientific community through her decision to create a charitable trust over 40 years ago. Since then, the Foundations have provided scientists with necessary funds for ground-breaking and cutting-edge medical research.

The Ramaciotti Foundations granted over $2.6 million to biomedical research in Australia, the largest distribution in their history, including the prestigious Ramaciotti Biomedical Research Award of $1 million.