$100,000 GRANT TO SUPPORT NEW LIVER RESEARCH FOUNDATION

The Queensland Government is investing $100,000 to support Australia’s first national organisation dedicated to liver research and education, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson said today the one-off grant would provide vital seed funding for the newly-established and Brisbane-based Australian Liver Foundation.

“The foundation is chaired by former Queensland premier Mike Ahern and is our first national body dedicated to raising funds for liver research and education,” he said.

“Queensland has a proud history in liver research and its clinical applications, dating back 40 years, including at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and the Queensland Liver Transplant Service that was developed in 1985 and based at Princess Alexandra Hospital and the Royal Children’s Hospital.

“Until now, Australia has never had a national liver foundation despite the fact two million Australians are, or have been, affected by liver disease.

"More than 2,000 Australians - including over 250 Queenslanders - die each year from chronic liver diseases, cirrhosis and cancers of the liver, gall bladder and bile ducts.
 
“A further 6,400 Queenslanders have some form of liver disease as a secondary or coincidental diagnosis during their hospitalisation.

“Despite this, investment in liver research and public education to date has been scant in relation to the magnitude, mortality and severity of these diseases."

Mr Robertson said the Australian Liver Foundation will raise funds for urgently-needed scholarships, fellowships, research and public education into liver disease.

“Funds will be distributed nationally to research institutions, universities, hospitals and other appropriate organisations for projects aimed at producing significant outcomes of benefit to the community," he said. 



“The burden of liver disease is growing in our community so this is a very important initiative.

Mr Robertson encouraged the Commonwealth, other States and territories and the private sector to also provide funding to support this important foundation and its work.

Australian Liver Foundation Chairman Mike Ahern said the Queensland Government’s $100,000 investment would be a catalyst for other governments and industry to provide funding to the foundation.

“Our aim is to quickly establish the Foundation as a major national force in attracting significant funding for liver research and education,” he said.

“I am sure the Beattie Government’s grant will encourage other State governments, as well as the Federal government, to actively consider the potential benefit of an Australia-wide emphasis on delivering solutions to liver disease in all its forms”.

Mr Ahern said the Foundation was dedicated to:

• Promoting the prevention, control and cures of diseases of the liver, gall bladder and bile ducts;
• Promoting and funding of scientific research relating to liver, gall bladder and bile duct disease through universities and research institutions; and
• Providing education and promoting community knowledge about liver, gall bladder and bile duct diseases.

“A priority for the Foundation in the next few years will be to develop an Australian database on the nature, extent and impact of liver diseases, and programs and methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

“We will also work to establish a Liver Pathology Reference Centre to effectively serve the nation’s needs,” Mr Ahern said.

The Foundation will work closely with several high quality research organisations including the Queensland Institute of Medical Research; the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, and a number of units at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.



The Liver Transplantation Unit based at the Princess Alexandra Hospital performed liver transplant operations on 31 Queenslanders last year with all recipients surviving the life-saving procedure.


4 July, 2007

MEDIA:     PAUL LYNCH      3234 1190