Head in Sydney, heart in the Hunter

Oct 29 2018

2018 HMRI Sydney Foundation

While HMRI may be based in the Hunter, we know that many ‘ex-pats’ may have moved away, but still have their heart in our region.

The HMRI Sydney Foundation is a passionate donor-support group which reaches out to those community-minded individuals who have their ‘Head in Sydney and Heart in the Hunter’ and helps raise awareness of, and funds for, vital medical research.

Their 2018 fundraising event was hosted by Andrew Gray, Partner, King Wood & Mallesons overlooking Sydney Harbour.  New and current supporters of HMRI gathered to learn more about HMRI’s achievements in the last 20 years and the future of medical research and the development of new treatments and preventative medicines.

On the night, the crowd heard about the impact that our genes have on disease and health as well as the future of genetics driving improved treatments for disease from Laureate Professor Rodney Scott. An HMRI geneticist and cancer researcher, Professor Scott explores the mechanisms of disease with the ultimate aim of developing more appropriate approaches to treatment to improve outcomes.

Laureate Professor Paul Foster also spoke about the globally-significant respiratory research work being undertaken at HMRI in asthma, COPD, pulmonary and cystic fibrosis. Respiratory disease impacts people at all ages and stages of life – from paediatrics and pre-natal health, to adult and older Australians – all of whom benefit from the research work that spans basic science to translational outcomes.

HMRI Sydney Foundation Chair, Kristie Atkins shared updates on HMRI’s ground-breaking stroke research, HMRI’s new Women in Medical Research Fellowships initiative and other major areas of research and discovery, including Indigenous health research.  

The harbour-views of the event were matched by exquisite wines supplied by 4th generation winemaker and HMRI Supporter Lisa McGuigan, and guests also sampled a new ale with Australian native ingredients,  donated by HMRI supporter Chrissy Flanagan from Sausage Queen Brewing.

To find out more about the Sydney Foundation, click here.