SSMRF Research Matters E-News – Issue 1 – March 2021

The 2020 SSMRF Research Grants were made possible from the support of our community. We are thankful to everyone who helped raise funds for SSMRF, your ongoing involvement, generosity and support has been essential to funding research in our hospitals, and we can’t thank you enough.

Last year, many of the Foundations’ fundraising events needed to be cancelled, adapted or postponed. In 2021 we look forward to welcoming you back to the Foundation’s annual events, including our charity golf day, Beachside Dash and grant announcement. Stay tuned for some new community events coming this year too.

In the meantime, we invite you to contact us with any feedback, comments, or questions you may have about the Foundation or any of the research projects.

On behalf of the directors, doctors, and staff, we thank you for your commitment and support of the Foundation.

News from SSMRF

Three researchers from the St George Hospital and the Sutherland Hospital have been awarded a SSMRF research grant for research projects across multiple disciplines.

We look forward to keeping you updated on these research projects.

St George and Sutherland Medical Research Foundation Relocates!

With the support of St George Hospital, the Foundation now embarks on a new chapter within the grounds of St George Hospital. St George Hospital is providing office space to the Foundation, free of charge to support its work.

Paul Darcy, General Manager St George Hospital, welcomed the Foundation to the hospital grounds.

“We are very happy to be able to facilitate the Foundation moving onto the St George Hospital campus and hope this location will help raise the profile of the Foundation and the amazing work done by our talented medical researchers here at St George Hospital,” Paul said.

This new announcement and commitment of support is welcomed by Cathy Yuncken, Chair, Leanne Dib, CEO and Directors of the Foundation.

Cathy Yuncken thanked Paul Darcy for this outstanding show of support and partnership. Read more.

Researchers at St George Hospital discover liver cancer ‘signature’ in gut holds clues to cancer risk

Their new study, overseen by A/Prof Amany Zekry, a Hepatologist Clinical Academic at UNSW and Prof Emad El-Omar, Professor of Medicine at UNSW, Director and founder of MRC, published in Nature Communications recently, found the gut microbiome – the kingdom of microorganisms living in our digestive tracts – can modulate the immune response in liver cancer patients with NAFLD, in a way that promotes the cancer’s survival.

While the research is still in its early stages, this finding could lead to more effective preventative and therapeutic treatments for people at risk of developing NAFLD-related liver cancer. Read More.

Support our research

Our research relies on the generous support of people like you. Show your support for SSMRF medical research today. There are many ways you can be involved.

• Make a donation. Large or small all donations make a difference.
• Become a research champion. Set up a regular donation and help fund important research.
• Donate in memory. Giving in honour or memory of a loved one can be a powerful and lasting way to celebrate their life.
• Leave a gift in your Will. Leaving a gift in your will is a powerful way for you to support vital medical research.
• Grateful Giving. Say thank you to those who cared for you.
• Fundraise for us. You don’t have to be a researcher to make a big difference to medical research.
• Volunteer with us. Our volunteers generously donate their time and talent so we can raise more money and awareness for research in our local hospitals.

Please contact SSMRF if you would like further information on how you can help support medical research in your hospitals. We would love to hear from you.