PA Research Foundation
 | |
| Founded | 1984 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non for Profit, Medical Research Foundation |
| Focus | Raising funds for medical research |
| Location | |
| Slogan | Real People, Real Research, Real Outcomes |
| Mission | To bring research to life |
| Website | www.pafoundation.org.au |
The PA Research Foundation (PARF) is an Australian Non for Profit Organisation that raises funds for lifesaving research to develop better diagnoses, treatments and preventions for some of Australia’s biggest health challenges.[1]
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 and donations and bequests from individuals.[2]
History
The Foundation was established in 1984 to raise funds for health and medical research, which includes grants, medical trials and vital equipment [3] at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland’s leading research hospital and largest clinical trials centre.[4] Gardasil, the cervical cancer vaccine discovered by PA Research Foundation board member Professor Ian Frazer and the Brisbane Technique are just two familiar entries in a long list of significant achievements from the Princess Alexandra Hospital.[5]
Fundraising and community activities
The PA Research Foundation is involved in a variety of events which help generate and raise significant funds. The Foundation’s signature annual fundraiser is The Great Brisbane Duck Race[6] where 30,000 rubber ducks race along the Brisbane River to raise funds for cancer research. In 2011, the race raised a record amount of over $200,000.
Other events include the Smiddy Fun Run, PA High Tea, ALH Breast Cancer Fundraiser which raises over $200,000 each year and the QHA Hotel Care Fundraiser which involves over 250 Queensland hotels participating to raise funds for medical research.[7] The Foundation also does health checks for it corporate partners and has a weekly spot on Ten News providing nutritional information.[8]
Research grants
Each year, the Foundation funds research projects proposed by the clinicians, scientists, nursing and allied health professionals on the Princess Alexandra Hospital campus.[9] 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.[9]
The philosophy of awarding research grants 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 as been able to fund equipment, research fellowships and postgraduate scholarships, studies and provide project support [10] that directly benefit research projects in areas such as cervical cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, leukaemia, breast cancer, heart disease, immunology, kidney disease, diabetes, liver disease, transplantation and arthritis.[11]
References
- ↑ "PA Research Foundation - About Us". Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ↑ "PA Research Foundation - Support Us". Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ↑ "Origin greats target melanoma". Quest News East Brisbane. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- ↑ "About Us - Princess Alexandra Hospital". Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ↑ "PA Foundation 1984-2009" (PDF). PARTNERS. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- ↑ "The Great Brisbane Duck Race". Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ↑ "QAH Hotel Care". Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ↑ "Princess Alexandra Hospital Year in Review 2010-2011" (PDF). Queensland Government. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- 1 2 PA Research Foundation (2011), Annual report, PA Research Foundation, ISSN 1839-5562
- ↑ "PA Support Grants 2012". Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ↑ "PA Research Foundation - Research". Retrieved 4 January 2012.