After years of losing patients to brain tumours 鈥� despite having access to the best of modern medicine 鈥� a Brisbane neurosurgeon has had enough.
Dr Sarah Olson has teamed with businesswoman and philanthropist Beverley Trivett to raise funds for brain tumour research at .
鈥淚 had an epiphany one day when I realised that surgeons such as myself cannot cure brain tumours,鈥� Dr Olson said.
鈥淥nly research holds the key to improving treatments for these devastating cancers.
鈥淏y investing in our most promising researchers today, we can make a difference in the treatment available tomorrow.
鈥淚 am tired of watching tumours destroy my patients and their families.鈥�
Dr Olson has joined the board of the , established by Beverley Trivett in 1998 after losing her husband John to a primary brain tumour.
The foundation is raising $1.5 million for a senior research fellow to be based between two institutes at 宅男导航: the and the .
鈥淚t has been 16 years since my husband died and patients with brain tumours today have no better chance of survival than they did when John was diagnosed,鈥� Mrs Trivett said.
鈥淭here has been some important progress made in brain research but we still don鈥檛 understand why people develop these dreadful tumours and why they grow so rapidly.鈥�
IMB Director and brain researcher said the John Trivett Foundation鈥檚 generous support already had enabled discoveries in brain research.
鈥淭he foundation鈥檚 previous investment in my laboratory at IMB allowed us to make great strides in understanding the genetics behind the most aggressive types of adult and paediatric brain tumours,鈥� Professor Wainwright said.
鈥淭he senior research fellowship will allow us to continue this work in concert with QBI and other Brisbane researchers.鈥�
QBI Director said the support of the John Trivett Foundation would be invaluable in coalescing the city鈥檚 brain cancer research.
鈥淪everal different labs are working on brain tumours at QBI, IMB and beyond, but no single group is solely focused on these cancers,鈥� Professor Bartlett said.
鈥淭he senior research fellow will integrate and lead these efforts to oversee brain cancer research in Brisbane.鈥�
To donate to the John Trivett Foundation, please or call (07) 3346 6300
ABOUT THE JOHN TRIVETT FOUNDATION
The John Trivett Foundation for Research into the Causes of Primary Brain Tumours was established in 1998 to commemorate and continue the philanthropy of the late John Trivett, who was born in Sydney in 1939. He died in Brisbane in 1997 of a glioblastoma multiforme. John was indefatigable when it came to doing what he loved. He created successful businesses in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane and in so doing inspired colleagues, staff and clients. He was committed to supporting the communities that were loyal to his business endeavours. He is remembered for a number of projects, including his contribution to the restoration of Brisbane鈥檚 , and the centenary of the .
ABOUT IMB
The is a research institute of 宅男导航 that aims to improve quality of life by advancing personalised medicine, drug discovery and biotechnology.
ABOUT QBI
Researchers at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) work to discover the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the ability of the adult brain to generate new nerve cells and form functional connections.
Media contacts: Bronwyn Adams, IMB Communications Officer 鈥� 0418 575 247, 07 3346 2134 or b.adams@imb.uq.edu.au
Mikaeli Costello, QBI Communications 鈥� 0401 580 685 or Mikaeli.Costello@uq.edu.au
