As the state’s independent not-for-profit health and medical research institute, SAHMRI relies on the generosity of trusts, foundations, government bodies and philanthropists to help fund the lifesaving medical research vital to its community.

The James and Diana Ramsay Foundation is one of the most significant contributors to SAHMRI projects across its 10-year history, recently passing the milestone of awarding $1.5m for various research areas.

The foundation’s latest donation gives cancer research a welcome boost with the appointment of a highly accomplished computational biologist as the new Ramsay Bioinformatics Fellow.

Dr Paul Wang’s exceptional skills in next-generation sequencing technology and high-level data analysis will uncover new insights in genomics that will significantly contribute to breakthroughs benefitting cancer patients.

Having previously held postdoctoral positions at the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, South Australian Cancer Facility, Centre for Cancer Biology and SA Pathology, Dr Wang said he is eager to bring his experience to the role.

“I’m honoured to be appointed as the Ramsay Bioinformatics Fellow, and I am grateful for the opportunity to further my work in cancer research,” Wang said.

The vital Bioinformatics Fellowship position has established critical analysis pipelines for cancer research, resulting in numerous publications and successful grant outcomes by the leukaemia research groups.

“The strength of bioinformatics at SAHMRI has led to major new investments in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, at the forefront of genomics, allowing single-cell detection and measurement of gene and protein expression,” Wang said.

The James and Diana Ramsay Foundation’s early investment in SAHMRI’s bioinformatic capability has helped establish connections with more than 140 researchers benefiting more than 270 projects.

The SAHMRI team is hoping to uncover new insights in genomics leading to cancer breakthroughs

One of the foundation’s directors, Tim Edwards, who has 32 years of experience as a medical practitioner, believes in supporting innovations to improve the health of our community.

“Innovation is at the heart of medical research. The great leaps forward have come mostly from patient scientific analysis leading to innovation rather than from light bulb discovery moments,” Edwards said.

“Innovations such as the polio vaccination, the use of insulin to treat diabetes, and successful treatments of HIV / AIDS have all been possible through the innovation of health and medical research scientists.”

Hundreds of world-leading researchers, including Dr Wang, are working every day on North Terrace to overcome the most common health conditions that affect everyone.

Heart disease, stroke, cancer, dementia, diabetes, mental health, arthritis, chronic pain and more – SAHMRI’s researchers are dedicated to discoveries that improve health and health care where it is needed most urgently.

Income from research grants alone is not enough to bring health and medical research to completion.

That is why the South Australian community of donors, philanthropists, trusts and foundations is vital to continue SAHMRI’s search for better ways to treat, heal and care for people.

Read more about SAHMRI research and how you can support their mission to cure disease and save lives at sahmri.org.au