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Highlights Over 2008 - 2009
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1. Introduction
During this fifth year of operation, MS Research Australia (MSRA) has been very productive - with two significant discoveries, funds to match forward commitments and considerable momentum in collaborative research.
The two ‘world-class’ breakthroughs from MSRA-funded research involve:
- The confirmed link between the Epstein Barr Virus and MS - announced in Queensland in Nov 08, and
- The discovery of two highly significant MS genetic associations by the ANZgene team, announced in June 09.
Together with previous outcomes from the Ausimmune Study, these discoveries are converging into the new theme of Prevention - and where Australia can focus on its strengths in MS research.
Other highlights from the year include:
- Research expenditure of $2.14 mill, which was a 3% increase over 2008
- An expansion of MSRA’s Australian MS Research Portfolio with another successful Australian Research Council (ARC) grant for the study of Proteomics in MS and
- A significant set of new Research Fellowship opportunities.
Meanwhile, MSRA’s financial performance builds on previous years:
- In fundraising, the target of $3.55 mill was overtaken, with a final result of $3.6mill (a 5% increase over the previous year)
- After research expenditure and overheads, a surplus of $619k was available for the balance sheet showing $3.1mill at June 30th. This provides MSRA with assests to cover its $2.87 mill of forward research commitments.
2. Research Activities
The year included major research discoveries, conferences and many new developments:
- In November 2008, a significant link between the Epstein Barr Virus and MS was announced by Prof Michael Pender from Queensland University, following three years of MSRA-funded research.
- In June 2009, the ANZgene (Trans-Tasman) research team, with 40 scientists led by Prof Trevor Kilpatrick from the University of Melbourne announced their world-first genetic discoveries – identifying two new MS genetic associations on chromosomes 12 and 20. This was announced with the publication of results in Nature Genetics via media conferences held at the University of Melbourne, University of Qld and the Menzies Centre in Hobart. A coordinated set of media releases and interviews were also arranged for co-investigators in other states, resulting in national (TV, radio, press and electronic) media coverage and excellent overseas interest.
- A new MSRA Research Platform – encompassing the Proteomics (cell chemistry) of MS – was established via a successful $375k ARC Linkage Grant application (the third for MSRA). This will be matched by $300k MSRA funding over the next 3 years. The new Platform will be centred at the University of Adelaide with Prof Shaun McColl and Prof Claude Bernard (at Monash University) collaborating with investigators from Perth, Sydney and Brisbane.
- The MSRA Life Study, featured at the MS Society of UK’s MS Frontiers Conference in London, May 2009, with Dr Rex Simmons (from Canberra Hospital) outlining the template used in Australia for measuring the Economic Impact of MS – one that may be adopted by the UK.
- An MSRA Research Seminar on the development of an ‘MS Prevention Strategy’ was held in June 2009, with scientists from the ANZgene and Ausimmune Platforms discussing the development of prevention trials – as a convergence of much of Australia’s MS research up till now.
- Meanwhile the MSRA Brain Bank was consolidated during 2008-09, with pledges (for donated brains) increasing to over 600 and research requests for human tissue also increasing.
- In a related honour for Australian MS research, Prof John Prineas (from Sydney University) won the MS International Foundation’s prestigious Charcot Award for lifetime service to MS research – as the first Australian to receive this award since its inception in 1969.
- In Social and Applied Research, a National Research and Development Framework has been developed with a ‘Reference Group’ now proposed to liaise between the MS Societies and MSRA – to ensure translational research and the application of outcomes to clinical practice.
- In Capacity Building, there has been significant developments for new Fellowships, announced earlier in the year, including:
- Macquarie Group Foundation Aus/UK Fellowship – with Dr Julia Morahan as the inaugural candidate now being accommodated in Oxford University, UK
- National Institute of Clinical Studies-MSRA Fellowship - with Dr Celia Chen, an Adelaide Ophthalmologist as the inaugural candidate
- Ian Ballard Travelling Fellowship – a new $35,000 Award, presented to A/Prof Fary Kahn, a rehabilitation specialist from the University of Melbourne.
Together, these activities reflect the most active year so far for MS research in Australia.
MSRA assigned $2.139 mill to research projects for the year, an increase of $59k or 3% over 2007-08. There have been no research projects of merit that were not funded.
MSRA also has a number of forward commitments in its Research Grants, now totalling $2.87 mill for the financial years to June 2012. Notionally, this amount is fully covered by current assets of $3.1 mill at 30th June. However, these commitments will be funded partly from our existing non-specific surplus, and from future MS Society grants and third party donations.
3. Operational Achievements
The operational achievements for 2008-09 are summarised as follows:
- In Fundraising, a gross income of $3.6 mill was achieved after a good end-of-year campaign that included the ANZgene discoveries. This included Foundation 5 Million (MSRA’s Community fundraising initiative) achieving another $627k for the year.
- New fundraising initiatives included the successful launch of our MSRA Research Partners and the MS Angels program, both aimed to bolster ownership of the research projects funded and to counter the threat of the current broader financial difficulties.
- Working more closely with the MS Societies in Marketing and Fundraising - is developing well, utilising the set of ‘principles’ from our Strategic Plan to aid in better coordination.
- There has been ongoing development for our MSRA Website – www.msra.org.au with new Multi-media interviews, media releases and significant new research and governance information.
- A strong PR profile, with 3 major (successful) campaigns through the year; including heavy promotion of the EBV and ANZgene discoveries.
- There was significant further advocacy to the Commonwealth Government for Budget support, with Dr John Richert (from the National Society of MS, USA) touring Australia and with John Coombs (former Secretary of the Australian Maritime Union) speaking at a major Parliamentary Breakfast (with over 120 attending) in March.
The achievements this year have come from the full team at MSRA, who deserve acknowledgement for their commitment and passion to accelerate MS Research in Australia. The team members include:
- Christine Remediakis – Research Development Manager
- Lauren Gilder – Events and Relationships Manager, who left us (late June) for further travel, and is now replaced by Mandy Lee
- Neil Robertson – F5m Campaign Administrator
- Petricia Augustus – Administration and Communications Manager
- Heather Cato – Research Coordinator, Perth Office
And we received considerable assistance from:
- Andrew Long – MSRA’s Company Secretary
- Richard Trimble – Finance Manager, MS Australia
- Amy Lin – Assistant Accountant, MS Australia
A very special acknowledgement and considerable thanks is due to the Chairman of MSRA’s Research Management Council; Prof Bill Carroll - who gives a significant amount of voluntary time overseeing MSRA’s Research Strategy and Grant Application process.
4. Ongoing support and contributions from donors, MS Societies, Trusts & Foundations, Pharmaceutical companies, corporates and Government
We appreciate the terrific ongoing support, received from many sources including:
- Individual Donors and our MS Angels
- The MS Societies and especially the increased support from MS Limited (MS Australia ACT/NSW/Vic) and the MS Society of WA,
- A range of philanthropic trusts and foundations, including the John T Reid Charitable Trusts, the Trish MS Research Foundation and the Collier Charitable Fund,
- Pharmaceutical companies who are part of MSRA’s Industry Round Table, including Bayer Schering, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis and Sanofi Aventis,
- Corporate support from the Macquarie Group Foundation, Blake Dawson, Wilson HTM, the Association of Financial Advisors Australia and BBX, and
- Government support from both the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing and the NSW Government, via the Office of Science and Medical Research.
5. The Coming Year
During the year, MSRA’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2012 was modified and developed as a foundation for our future operations, this included our Research Strategy, developing further as the Australian MS Research Platform, strongly influenced by recent discoveries and the convergence of research programs into questions about:
- Prevention Strategies for MS
- New Targeted Therapies, and
- Regenerative Medicine for MS (essentially targeting a ‘cure’)
This strategy will continue to focus on the strengths in Australia’s MS research and Capacity Building with more Scholarships and Fellowships, with our MS research expenditure set to increase by 20% to over $2.5mill.