Foundation’s $215k aids medical research
The Clifford Craig Foundation will pour $215,000 into Tasmanian medical research in a bid to target some of the state’s most pressing health concerns.
The grant program will aid eight research projects – from breast cancer treatments to research into improving palliative care.
One of the 2024 medical research grant recipients, University of Tasmania School of Health Science researcher Dr Darren Henstridge, will investigate if altering a gene improves the action of the diabetes drug metformin and whether it can be used to decrease fat levels in the liver.
“Currently, there are no descriptions in the scientific literature of the effects of increasing the activity of this gene, and consequently, all our findings will be original,” Dr Henstridge said.
He said gaining a greater understanding of how this drug works could help scientists target the genes associated with type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or metabolic dysfunctionassociated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), thereby reducing the health burden associated with these conditions.
“In Tasmania, we have the highest prevalence of obesity in the country. And this is a major predisposing factor for the development of type 2 diabetes and fatty liver,” he said.
Clifford Craig Foundation chairman Dr John Batten AM said that along with the eight research grants, the foundation would contribute more than $900k in funding for medical research in Tasmania’s North and NorthWest in 2024.
“These exciting new projects highlight the passion of our healthcare professionals, working to find better treatments and cures for the health issues that impact our community,” Dr Batten said.