The IRT Research Foundation was pleased to announce the successful grant recipients for 2010 during Seniors' Week celebrations.

IRT Chief Executive Nieves Murray welcomed the $120,000 worth of award announcements and the positive contribution the research would make to the lives of older people.

"The IRT Research Foundation is a new initiative of IRT, to progress projects which assist a greater understanding of the ageing process and the care and wellbeing of senior Australians and beyond," Ms Murray said.

"This is evident in the three successful projects - we congratulate the award recipients and look forward to sharing the progress of their research and the outcomes in 12 months time."

The successful grants were awarded to:

• Dr Justin Yerbury and Dr Heath Ecroyd, from the School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, will research molecular chaperones as agents of the ageing process with the ultimate goal of developing therapeutic drugs to combat ageing and age-related disorders and disease.
• Dr Francesca Fernandez Enright and her team from the Illawarra Health & Medical Research Institute will research prevention and early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease using gene expression profiling in a case-control population in the Illawarra.
• Professor Sandra Jones, the University of Wollongong's Director for the Centre for Health Initiatives, and her team will research different approaches  to encourage healthy behaviours that improve an individual's wellbeing and lifestyle.

Supporting research through the Foundation links with IRT's Mission, to create communities where older people achieve their optimum quality of life.

Launched in 2009, the IRT Research Foundation will work just as the pioneers of IRT did, by raising valuable funds to assist in the research into the issues of an ageing society.

The IRT Foundation Committee consists of Mr Lin Lewis (Chairman), Mr Alan Newing, Dr John Hogg, Mr Malcolm Heard and Ms Jacqui Parrish.

Please check this web site regularly for updates and announcements for 2011 IRT Research Foundation grant applications.

IRT Donations

Your support in the form of a donation allows IRT to further enhance the lives of our residents and clients both now and in the future. Donations are fundamental to IRT and its mission to create communities where older people achieve their optimum quality of life. 

You can make a donation using the following methods:

• Direct deposit (online form)
• Cheque or money order (print form)

To make a donation to the IRT Research Foundation, simply complete your details in the online or print form below.

IRT Research Foundation Donations (online)
IRT Reseach Foundation Donations (print)

If you would like further information about donations, please click here.
Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.

IRT Research Foundation: a division of Illawarra Retirement Trust