The annual Telethon 7 event in Western Australia is a testament to the community's commitment to creating a brighter future for WA children and their families. This year, the event has once again showcased the incredible generosity of Western Australians, with the Fiona Wood Foundation being named a beneficiary for 2024. The Foundation is set to fund two pivotal research projects to transform the lives of children affected by burns.
One of the funded projects, led by our early career Postdoctural Researcher, Blair Johnson, is titled "Platelet Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease Following Paediatric Burns." This study aims to explore the long-term cardiovascular consequences of paediatric burn injuries, with an emphasis on non-severe injuries.
Collaboration with leading experts is critical to the translational high impact research we do at the FWF. The team for this project includes co-investigator A/Prof Matthew Linden (School of Biomedical Science, UWA), a leading expert in platelet biology and senior academic who provides critical expertise and mentorship to Blair as an early career researcher. We are also pleased to be working with Professor Danny Green and Dr Andy Haynes from the Cardiovascular Research Group (UWA), leading researchers in their field bringing knowledge and technical expertise that are essential to investigating the impact of burns on vascular function.
Despite significant advancements in medical treatments enhancing survival rates post-burn injury, the prolonged and potentially lifelong health implications remain largely under-researched. Blair’s project is pioneering in its approach, focusing on identifying mechanisms that could lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life in children who have survived a burn injury. By examining the intricate relationship between burn injuries, platelets, and vascular function, the study aims to identify the underlying mechanisms that may link future cardiovascular disease risk after burn injury.
These insights will help us better understand the post-burn health challenges for children and pave the way for developing targeted interventions and therapies to improve the long-term health and quality of life outcomes for child burn patients.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Western Australian community, whose support through Telethon 7 is crucial in advancing medical research and innovation. Keep an eye on our platform for updates as the study progresses.
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