has received over $3million to boost tuberculosis research from the TB Sailors鈥�, Soldiers鈥� & Airmen's Association of Queensland (TB Association), this week.
The recently disbanded TB Association has donated its assets to 宅男导航鈥檚 (CMVH) for ongoing TB research.
CMVH Director, said the Centre was grateful for such a substantial gift from the TB Association.
鈥淭his donation will support ongoing tuberculosis research of benefit to serving and ex-serving men and women, and the broader community,鈥� Professor Warfe said.
鈥淕iven the TB Association鈥檚 background of supporting ex-servicemen, it is fitting that the donation is coming to the centre.
鈥淲e鈥檙e set to commence a project, and will collaborate with the Australian Army Malaria Institute to investigate the outcomes of soldiers who contracted TB in World War I (WWI).
鈥淲e know that 380 servicemen died from TB during WWI but we don鈥檛 know how many people were affected by, or died from, the disease upon their return from active service.
鈥淭his research is not just a historical exercise 鈥� WWI was a time in history prior to the use of effective antibiotics or vaccines to fight the disease.
鈥淏y improving our understanding of the natural progression of the disease, we may be able to better understand how newly emerging antibiotic-resistant strains of TB may affect populations.
鈥淭B is a major public health threat, affecting about 32 per cent of the world鈥檚 population 鈥� this equates to about 8-9 million new cases per year and about 3 million deaths.
鈥淭he rising international incidence of TB may affect members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) deployed overseas, despite a range of effective protective strategies.
鈥淎s Australia鈥檚 foremost research institute devoted to the health of military personnel and veterans, we鈥檙e keen to protect serving members from contracting TB.
鈥淥ur increased knowledge will also have benefits for TB research worldwide.鈥�
The TB Association has also donated its historical records to 宅男导航鈥檚 .
The records have been catalogued as a lasting legacy of the organisation鈥檚 contribution to supporting veterans with TB.
The Fryer Library was named after a previous 宅男导航 student and war veteran, John Denis Fryer, who died of tuberculosis in 1923 upon his return from WWI.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
It usually affects the lungs, although almost any organ of the body can be involved.
CMVH is a collaboration between 宅男导航, the University of Adelaide, and Charles Darwin University, and aims to optimise the health of ADF personnel and veterans鈥� communities through research and education.
The TB Association had formed in 1919 to support ex-servicemen who had contracted tuberculosis (TB), while serving overseas.
Media Kate Gadenne, Senior Operations and Communications Officer
Phone (07 3346 4953, Mobile: 0438 727 895, Email: k.gadenne@uq.edu.au.)
