Golden Casket Foundation extends another $1.2 million: Bligh

A clinical trial for burns victims, a boost for breast cancer research and a study to tackle childhood obesity are among recipients of the latest Golden Casket Foundation grants announced this morning by Acting Premier and Treasurer Anna Bligh.

The announcement is the second round of Golden Casket Foundation grants.

“It is fantastic to see that more than $1.2 million will go towards ground-breaking research into childhood and maternal obesity, burns, mental health and cancer studies,” Ms Bligh said.

“We look forward to seeing some positive results emerge from the projects undertaken by the six successful grant recipients of 2006,” she said.

2006 Golden Casket Foundation Grant Recipients

Mater teams up with Scouts to tackle childhood obesity

A $226,792 grant will allow the Mater Children’s Hospital (MCH) to conduct a study to help fight childhood obesity.

With up to 30 per cent of children in our society classified as overweight or obese, Australia is facing a national health crisis as these individuals are more susceptible to further health complications as adolescents or young adults.

The project, named the KOALA research program, will involve the MCH joining forces with a community-based sustainable network including Scouts Queensland exercise camps to investigate ways to overcome the issue of childhood obesity.

Queensland-first lab to grow skin for burn victims with $227,272 grant

A $227,272 grant will be put toward the establishment and clinical trial of a skin culture service in Queensland to help “grow” skin for transplantation onto burns victims.

The Queensland University of Technology is pioneering the skin culture service which is currently not available to Queenslanders and will substantially lower the cost of artificial skin for a single burns patient from $80,000-plus to less than $5,000.

Mothers and babies to benefit from study into maternal obesity

Maternal obesity currently affects one in three pregnancies in Australia, and can lead to many health complications for both mothers and their babies.

A $213,580 grant awarded to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital will buy equipment to assist a study to find how best to improve outcomes for obese women and their babies.

The project, which assesses the feasibility of an exercise program, will provide researchers with information and insights not previously reported.

World-first study to improve the care of mental health nurses and their patients

The world-first study into mental health service provision in Queensland will be conducted by The University of Sunshine Coast after being awarded a grant of $225,192.

The study will trial the concept of Clinical Supervision. It will focus not only on the outcomes for individual mental health nurses, but will also examine the quality of care they provide and the effect of both on patient outcomes.

First-ever study to find immune response for incurable cancer gets off the ground

Multiple Myeloma is an incurable progressive malignant disease, characterised by blood and bone marrow abnormalities.

The Mater Medical Research Institute will use the $227,272 awarded by the Golden Casket Foundation to undertake a study to find whether bone marrow can be used to develop responses that may help control this cancer.

$94,027 gives boost to breast cancer research in Queensland

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer to affect women and the $94,027 grant made to the Queensland Health Pathology Service will be used to purchase a Semi Automated Tissue Microarrayer.

This Microarrayer will be used to help determine whether the primary tumours in women with early breast cancer can help predict their axillary nodal status before surgery occurs.

Golden Casket Lottery Corporation Limited Chief Executive, Mr Bill Thorburn, said he was delighted that six Queensland health and medical research organisations would benefit from the $1.2 million awarded in the second round of Golden Casket Foundation grants.

“Golden Casket is celebrating 90 years in Queensland this December, and at this time I am very proud that our Corporation is still contributing to the Queensland community as it began doing in 1916 when it raised funds for the victims of World War I,” Mr Thorburn said.

“We hope that through our many community endeavours, including the Golden Casket Foundation, we will continue to make a positive difference to the lives of Queenslanders.”

Established in April 2005 by the Queensland Government and Golden Casket Lottery Corporation Limited, the Golden Casket Foundation uses interest accrued on unclaimed first division lotto prizes to reinvest in Queensland’s future by supporting medical research in Queensland.

There are currently two unclaimed first division prizes in Queensland which help fund the Golden Casket Foundation. These are the $23.2 million Powerball prize sold at Nundah Newsagency and a Gold Lotto prize just over $1,000,000 sold at Hyperdome News and Casket, Loganholme.

The winners of the unclaimed prizes have seven years from the draw to claim their prize.

Please note that the grant amounts detailed above are exclusive of GST.

Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 4379