The PA Research Foundation (PARF) is an Australian
nonprofit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
that raises funds for lifesaving research to develop better
diagnoses and
treatments for some of
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
’s biggest health challenges.
The Foundation does not receive any financial support from the government and is funded solely through donations from corporate sponsors, community fundraising and groups, events, donations and bequests from individuals.
History
The Foundation was established in 1984 to raise funds for health and
medical research
Medical research (or biomedical research), also known as health research, refers to the process of using scientific methods with the aim to produce knowledge about human diseases, the prevention and treatment of illness, and the promotion of ...
, which includes grants, medical trials and vital equipment at the
Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland’s leading research hospital and largest clinical trials centre.
Gardasil
Gardasil is an HPV vaccine for use in the prevention of certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). Text was copied from this source which is copyright European Medicines Agency. Reproduction is authorized provided the source is acknowledg ...
, the cervical cancer vaccine discovered by PA Research Foundation board member Professor
Ian Frazer
Ian Hector Frazer (born 6 January 1953) is a Scottish-born Australian immunologist, the founding Chief Executive Officer, CEO and Executive Director, Director of Research of the Translational Research Institute (Australia). Frazer and Jian Zh ...
and the Brisbane Technique for
liver transplantation
Liver transplantation or hepatic transplantation is the replacement of a diseased liver with the healthy liver from another person (allograft). Liver transplantation is a treatment option for end-stage liver disease and acute liver failure, al ...
are two significant achievements from the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Fundraising and community activities
The PA Research Foundation is involved in a variety of events which help generate and raise significant funds. For over 12 years, the Foundation held Australia's Biggest Duck Race for Cancer Research, a fundraising event which saw over 40,000 rubber ducks race along the Brisbane River to raise funds for cancer research. The event concluded in October 2018.
The Foundation also hosts The Smiddy Fun Run, an annual race around the PA Hospital Campus held every November in memory of Adam Smiddy, a PA Hospital Physiotherapist whose life was cut short after being diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 26.
In 2019, the Foundation revamped its Art Union Program introducing their Lucky Duck Lottery, with funds raised through ticket sales supporting life-saving cancer research at the PA Hospital Campus.
Team PARF, the Foundation's online fundraising platform, encourages members of the community to participate in fundraising events to run, swim, cycle your way to lifesaving medical research.
Campaigns
The Foundation also holds campaigns in collaboration with corporate partners, including
Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group
Australian(s) may refer to:
Australia
* Australia, a country
* Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia
** European Australians
** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists
** Aboriginal Aus ...
(ALH), Aveo Group, Stellarossa and Australian Venue Co (AVC).
ALH Group has raised funds for Project Pink since 2010, raising more than $2.5 million for breast cancer research at the PA Hospital Campus. Aveo Group have also championed Project Pink since 2016, with communities across Australia coming together to raise over $750,000 for breast cancer research. Stellarossa Stores around Queensland have also supported Project Pink, fundraising for breast cancer research since 2015.
MANDATE - the Foundation's Men's Health Campaign, runs in AVC venues annually around Australia throughout the months of June and July. 2020 will be the 9th year MANDATE will run in AVC venues to raise funds for prostate cancer research, having raised over $1 million to date through the partnership.
Research grants
Each year, the Foundation funds research projects proposed by the clinicians, scientists and health professionals on the Princess Alexandra Hospital campus.
The Foundation receives applications from health researchers on the campus which are then assessed by the Research Committee, an independent team of qualified medical professionals, and awarded based on merit and funds available. All research funded by the Foundation goes through a rigorous selection process to ensure it is of genuine scientific merit, and does not replicate any other research anywhere in the world.
The philosophy of awarding
research
Research is creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge. It involves the collection, organization, and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness to ...
grants
Grant or Grants may refer to:
People
* Grant (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
* Grant (surname), including a list of people and fictional characters
** Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885), the 18th president of the U ...
is to:
* Support researchers and projects on the path to securing competitive funding.
* Attract new researchers to the campus.
* Provide assistance to new researchers in the early stage of their research career and,
* Promote the culture of collaboration and group work within the PA research environment.
Through the grants, the PA Research Foundation has been able to fund equipment, research fellowships and postgraduate scholarships, studies and provide project support that directly benefit research projects in areas such as
cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix or in any layer of the wall of the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that can invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later sympt ...
,
prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the neoplasm, uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system below the bladder. Abnormal growth of the prostate tissue is usually detected through Screening (medicine), screening tests, ...
,
skin cancer
Skin cancers are cancers that arise from the Human skin, skin. They are due to the development of abnormal cells (biology), cells that have the ability to invade or metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. It occurs when skin cells grow ...
,
leukaemia
Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia; pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and produce high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or '' ...
,
breast cancer
Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...
,
heart disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is any disease involving the heart or blood vessels. CVDs constitute a class of diseases that includes: coronary artery diseases (e.g. angina pectoris, angina, myocardial infarction, heart attack), heart failure, ...
,
immunology
Immunology is a branch of biology and medicine that covers the study of Immune system, immune systems in all Organism, organisms.
Immunology charts, measures, and contextualizes the Physiology, physiological functioning of the immune system in ...
, kidney disease,
diabetes
Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells of th ...
,
liver disease
Liver disease, or hepatic disease, is any of many diseases of the liver. If long-lasting it is termed chronic liver disease. Although the diseases differ in detail, liver diseases often have features in common.
Liver diseases
File:Ground gla ...
, transplantation and
arthritis
Arthritis is a general medical term used to describe a disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, Joint effusion, swelling, and decreased range of motion of ...
.
References
{{Reflist
External links
PA Research FoundationThe Great Brisbane Duck Race
Foundations based in Australia
Medical and health foundations
Medical and health organisations based in Australia