Professor Don Iverson . . . the award will provide a vital piece of e...

Ramaciotti award aids in vital equipment for IHMRI

The Ramaciotti Foundations has awarded the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI) at the University of Wollongong a $50,000 grant to support outstanding biomedical research.

In all, the Ramaciotti Foundations recently awarded 35 recipients more than $2.5 million for biomedical research projects.

The IHMRI research project supported by the grant is aimed at gaining new insight into lipid metabolism and its role in the development of various conditions such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

“I am so pleased we have received this $50,000 grant from the Ramaciotti Foundations," IHMRI Executive Director and UOW’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Health), Professor Don Iverson, said.

“Receiving this grant will allow us to purchase a liquid handling robot, a vital piece of equipment for the lipidomics laboratory.

“This robot will vastly improve sample throughput and data reproducibility. It will also provide a significant safety benefit to researchers through reduced handling of potentially dangerous tissues and solvents,” Professor Iverson said.

The Ramaciotti Foundations are collectively one of the largest private contributors to biomedical research in Australia having granted more than $45 million to research projects since 1970.

Managed by Perpetual, The Foundations began with $6.7 million with the first major grant going to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in 1971. This assisted with the establishment of a new building called the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Research Laboratories.