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About the Foundation

The Fremantle Hospital Medical Research Foundation began life in 1996 to support and encourage medical research at Fremantle Hospital.

It is an independent charitable trust, with the six trustees being prominent Fremantle business people. Supporting the Trustees are groups of professionals who also give their time at no charge, including a scientific advisory committee comprised of elite medical professionals, a marketing committee, a dedicated team of volunteers, plus a small office staff located at Fremantle Hospital.

The Foundation receives no direct government funding, relying upon the generosity of the local community and businesses and its own fundraising endeavours.

The Fremantle Hospital Medical Research Foundation offers three means of support to Fremantle Hospital-based researchers: the annual Fremantle Hospital Research Awards, the Barry Marshall Travel Award and the Warren Jones Awards.

Fremantle Hospital Research Awards

Each year, Fremantle Hospital's researchers are invited to apply for seed funding up to $15,000 each to explore scientific ideas that may otherwise not receive funding through traditional channels.

Since 1999 the Foundation has awarded over $882,071 towards 83 research projects in areas as diverse as cancer, Alzheimers, heart disease, wound management, anaphylaxis, Crohn's Disease, and hepatitis.

The successful outcome of many of these projects has resulted in over three million dollars of additional research funding being given to the hospital to continue the promising research.

The value of the Foundation's annual awards is best demonstrated by testimonials from two of Fremantle Hospital's researchers:

Dr Ian Beckman, who is investigating the effects of stress on the immune system of elderly caregivers: "The Foundation is pivotal in keeping Fremantle Hospital at the cutting edge. It brings in young graduates as research assistants, which then grows to a critical mass. Without these seeding awards, the younger researchers would go elsewhere. Even though the amounts may be considered small, the awards are an opportunity to build a base. I can't speak highly enough of the Foundation.".

Dr Hilary Wallace, researching leg ulcers: "Without the Foundation's grant I would not have been able to gain valuable DNA information for my research. We've already had very promising results with one gene which has led to a major research collaboration with an international drug company. The seeding funds from the Foundation are invaluable for progressing work to the point where we can then attract really substantial funding through collaboration with research partners in the international research community.".


Warren Jones Awards

The prestigious Warren Jones Awards were named in honour of a great man who had a strong personal commitment to the health and wellbeing of our community.

Warren Jones was the founder of the Fremantle Hospital Medical Research Foundation and previous Chairman of the Fremantle Hospital Board, as well as being an internationally renowned yachting figure.

The Warren Jones Awards comprise a PhD Scholarship, a Fellowship and an Oration. Their purpose is to support excellence in medical research, nurture the careers of doctors and scientists, and to attract exceptional staff and students to Fremantle Hospital. They have an enormous potential to influence the health and wellbeing of the entire community for generations to come.

The Scholarship funds high calibre students to undertake PhD studies under the supervision of senior researchers based at Fremantle Hospital.

The Fellowship comprises a three month residency by a high quality post-doctoral researcher, assisting skills transfer to researchers within Fremantle Hospital.

The Oration features a speaker of international significance.

These Awards have an enormous potential to influence the health and wellbeing of the entire community for generations to come.


Barry Marshall Travel Award

On 10 December 2005 Professor Barry Marshall, Patron of the Fremantle Hospital Medical Research Foundation, was jointly awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize for Medicine/Physiology for his discovery with Professor Robin Warren that a bacteria, Helicobacter pylori, was responsible for causing gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.

In recognition of the pivotal role that a travel grant played in bringing the discovery to the attention of the international medical community and to pay tribute to Professor Marshall's achievement, the Trustees of the Fremantle Hospital Medical Research Foundation announced the introduction of an annual Barry Marshall Travel Award, open to all medical researchers at Fremantle Hospital.

The Award is a grant of up to $10,000 for travel within or outside of Australia for the purposes of attending a conference or meeting to present the findings of research performed at Fremantle Hospital.

Equipment Award

An Award of $10,000 which is presented to the research team that can best demonstrate the need for an item of important research equipment that will benefit the largest number of researchers at the hospital.

The Award has been sponsored over the past four years through the generosity of Westend Financial Partners and the AMP Foundation.



How You Can Support the Foundation

Many opportunities exist for individuals, community groups and companies to help fundraise for the Fremantle Hospital Medical Research Foundation.

Payroll deductions, casual dress days, quiz nights and movie premieres are some of the ways people have supported the Foundation. Some people choose to make a bequest to the Foundation in their will as a lasting legacy.

Any donation, no matter how large or small, will make a difference.

Companies can choose to sponsor one of the Awards, which will confer many benefits including lab tours, trophies and invitations to special functions.

For further information, please contact Sonia Gurbiel  on 08 9450 8809.