What do you do when a child falls seriously ill, or suffers from a chronic disease or disability? What do you do when you discover that a child is affected by a disorder like autism, or that they battle with anxiety or depression? Many of us start asking questions:
- What's the best treatment?
- Is there a cure?
- Could it have been prevented?
- Why did this happen to my child.
For the past 23 years, scientists at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research have been working to answer these questions.
Led by one of Australia's leading child health researchers, Professor Jonathan Carapetis and chaired by John Langoulant AO, the Telethon Institute is one of the largest, and most successful medical research institutes in Australia, comprising a dedicated and diverse team of more than 500 staff and students.
Your support can help us to make a difference... so get involved!
How will the funds be used?
We respond to your concerns about your children and so we look at everything that has an impact on the health and wellbeing of children and translate that research into action that will improve outcomes. Some of the main areas we are focused on are:
- Aboriginal health
- Asthma, allergy and respiratory disorders
- Children's cancer and leukaemia
- Diabetes and obesity
- Disability and developmental disorders
- Environmental impacts on health
- Infectious disease
- Mental health
- Pregnancy and maternal health
Key areas of expenditure
We want to achieve the best for all children so some of our priorities are:
1. Scholarships:
To be innovative and at the leading edge of child health research we offer Scholarships in order to recruit and retain the brightest scientists who can make a difference to the lives of children. A wide range of opportunities to name a scholarship include an Early Career Research Scholarship at $150,000, however any support for scholarships is welcome.
Specific projects include:
2. Diabetes:
Diabetes is a life-long condition for which there is no cure. It requires daily management and carries a significant burden for young children and their families. Dr Tim Jones and his team at the Telethon Institute are conducting a world first clinical trial of an artificial pancreas by conducting the first at home trials of the system - all support is vital.
3. Autism clinical trial:
The Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has made it an aim to ACT for Autism. By establishing an Autism Clinical Trial (ACT) unit in Perth, our researchers can tackle some of Autism's toughest questions. ACT will be led by Associate Professor Andrew Whitehouse and aims to find effective ways to help parents, teachers and carers to develop the full potential of children with Autism - all donations are critical to establish this important trial.
If you would like to find out more about our ground breaking research and meet our researches visit: www.childhealthresearch.org.au or call 08 9489 7777