Adelaide says thank you for medical research

Community

Medical researchers at the University of Adelaide and right across the nation have been publicly thanked for their work on life-saving and life-altering medical science.

Thank You Day, a community event held right around Australia, was hosted for the first time at the University last month, bringing together medical researchers and members of the public, including school children.

The morning event saw some of the University's best medical scientists share their knowledge with the community about groundbreaking research, and heard how medical science was making a major impact on people's lives.

"As the State's most research-intensive university, and one of the most research-intensive of any university in Australia, the University of Adelaide is a fitting location for this Thank You Day event," said the University's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Operations), Professor Richard Russell AM.

"This year alone the University of Adelaide has won more than $30 million in new funding for medical research, which is aimed at tackling some of the biggest issues in health facing Australians and people right around the globe."

Thank You Day, held in the University's Bonython Hall, saw a number of speakers talk about medical science in interviews with the event's MC, Xavier Minniecon from Channel 9.

Professor of Microbiology James Paton spoke about his research into bacterial infectious diseases, which kill millions of people every year, and explained why more work was required to find effective treatments and preventions for these diseases. He pointed out that, somewhere in the world, 700 people would die from bacterial infectious diseases within the time of the Thank You Day event.

The Head of the University's School of Medicine, Professor Gary Wittert, spoke about research efforts into obesity. Describing obesity as "the climate change of human health", he said that research such as the Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study was helping to inform clinicians and the community about the state of male health and what to do about it.

Cadence Minge, PhD student in the Discipline of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, spoke about the link between obesity and infertility.

An up-and-coming research talent, Ms Minge explained the importance of communicating science to the public.

A member of the community and breast cancer survivor, Gia Pyrlis, gave an inspirational talk about how her life has been changed and how medical science is helping to save the lives of many.

As well as hearing about the latest developments in medical science, members of the community and research and general staff alike added their messages of support to a large Thank You card.

The card was one of many that travelled around the nation as part of the national Thank You Day events organised by Research Australia.

Students from Prince Alfred College, Underdale High School and Woodville High School were among those who signed the Thank You card.

Story by David Ellis