2009 Research Funding
As the Heart Foundation marks its 50th year, its research funding into Australia’s biggest killer – cardiovascular disease - tops more than $200M.
In 2009, the Heart Foundation will increase its national spend on research to $13.5million, up from $12million in 2008. This includes 99 new projects focusing on medical matters of the heart, bringing the national total to 208.
Dr Lyn Roberts, Heart Foundation CEO - National said that while the charity’s 50 year commitment to research has resulted in significant improvements to the understanding, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, ongoing research into this largely preventable disease has never been more important.
“We are still fighting a disease which kills 125 Australians each day and is responsible for 34% of all Australian deaths,” she added.
Research projects will take place across the country and one may even prove that mobile phones can help teenagers lose weight!
“The projects are a sign of the times – they reflect the key issues of cardiovascular health in 2009 and it’s certainly not focused on just the elderly,” said Dr Roberts. “The obesity epidemic continues to be a core challenge.”
“One project is trialing a weight management strategy for teenagers using email and SMS and several others are looking at diabetes, another medical condition that has increased with rising obesity rates,” said Dr Roberts.
Other research projects include gathering much needed information regarding children’s salt intake; developing a vaccine for rheumatic heart disease; investigating why indigenous babies are at risk of cardiovascular disease in later life and looking into the eyes to see what they can tell us about a person’s heart.
“Almost all of the $200 million allocated to cardiovascular research since 1959 has come from the community so the Heart Foundation is enormously grateful to Australians. Their support is quite literally life saving,” said Dr Roberts.
It’s also a good economic investment - for every $1 invested in cardiovascular research there is a proven $8 return in terms of health gains. It is the most expensive disease in Australia totalling $5.94 billion in direct health costs.