Hello Friends,
Time has truly flown, bringing us to another year's end – a perfect moment for reflection. The year has passed by quickly, and it has been filled with remarkable efforts and achievements from our research and clinical teams.
Reflecting on our annual highlights and impact stories demonstrates a year of expanding knowledge in burns management and recovery, providing comprehensive burn care and support to individuals and their families affected by burn injuries. I take immense pride in our team's collaborative efforts as we work towards achieving scarless healing in both mind and body. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to them for their continued dedication and hard work. I am especially proud of our early career post-doctoral researcher, Dr Andrew Stevensen, who received a Raine Foundation grant this year. These are important career milestones for researchers and their dedication to expand the body of knowledge for burn patients in their respective projects will be exciting.
When I began my journey in burn research, I was keenly aware of the importance of understanding patients' experiences to improve future quality-of-life outcomes. Engaging patients directly in research not only aids in developing more effective treatments and holistic care approaches but also empowers the patients by giving them a voice in their own care journey. This year, my vision has been realised, we've given children, their caregivers, and adults the opportunity to participate in our many research studies that have spanned the patient journey. I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported the Foundation in this way.
Our achievements wouldn't be possible without the invaluable support from our community and corporate sponsors. This October was a highlight, with 47 amazing individuals taking part in the Central Park Plunge, raising an extraordinary $81,888.63 to contribute to our educational and research initiatives. Additionally, we've received tremendous support through generous donations and bequests from individuals and the community, all essential to our continued work. Our gratitude extends to all who continuously support our mission, as it is this collective effort that truly drives impactful change.
I am thrilled to share with you that in 2024, with the establishment of two new PhD scholarships - the Jo Wheatley PhD Scholarship and the FPA Australia PhD Scholarship - we will have the opportunity to mentor emerging bright students in this unique and challenging field of research. Thank you to the Wheatley Family Foundation and all the FPA Australia members who have donated to support the PhD Scholarships – your contribution is invaluable.
As we approach the holiday season, we extend our best wishes for a joyful and safe time to you and your loved ones. With predictions of a hot summer ahead, we also remind everyone to take care in protecting themselves and their families from the damaging effects of the sun.
Yours,
Fiona Wood
P.S. - I am immensely grateful to those who have generously donated their annual gifts, supporting our vital research and education efforts.
This festive season, if you find yourself in a position to help, we warmly invite you to contribute towards building a comprehensive data platform for our Burn Injury Biobank. This project enhances our research capabilities, allowing us to store and analyse essential data. Your support can significantly impact the future of burn care and recovery.
For more information and to make your valued contribution, please click here.