Unclaimed lotto interest boosts State’s cancer research

Research programs into childhood and adult cancers, hypertension and new vaccines to fight a range of diseases are the big winners in the State Government’s innovative move to make use of a major unclaimed Lotto prize by advancing Queensland medical research.

Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Anna Bligh today announced five leading medical research organisations would share in almost $1 million in grants, taken from the interest earned on a massive, still unclaimed first division $23 million Lotto prize.

Ms Bligh said the Golden Casket Foundation Grants – a Smart State initiative announced by the Premier in April – made funds of up to $250,000 available to individual research outfits in hospitals, universities and independent medical institutions across the state.

The five grants had been awarded to the following organisations:

* $201,250 for a groundbreaking program aimed at creating vaccines to fight infectious disease and cancer
The grant will give a major boost to a Sir Albert Sakzewski Virus Research Centre (Herston) program aimed at creating new vaccines to prevent and cure a range of diseases such as childhood respiratory infections and Epstein-Barr virus associated lymphoma. The project has international potential in the creation of new vaccines to fight a range of diseases

* $250,000 buys state-of-the art equipment to better understand and treat cancer
The grant for the Queensland Institute of Medical Research will be used to purchase a vital piece of equipment that will allow researchers to better understand and treat cancer. The equipment will be used extensively for studies aimed at understanding the causes breast, ovary, womb, skin, liver, oesophagus and colon cancers.

* $230,000 injection made to improve Queensland cancer care
The grant awarded to the Queensland Cancer Fund will help develop and evaluate better ways to monitor and improve the care of cancer patients in Queensland. The eventual aim is to facilitate more effective feedback on patient care to clinicians and healthcare institutions to improve the care of cancer patients.

* $195,045 for Australian-first research to better understand inflammatory bowel disease
The grant awarded to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospital will be put towards an Australian-first population based study into inflammatory bowel disease. No research of this kind has been ever conducted in Australia and the results of the study will be used to identify current environmental and genetic factors that determine IBD.

* $104,315 to go toward lowering our blood pressure
The grant awarded to the Princess Alexandra Hospital will be put towards developing a method to optimise detection of curable hypertension. Hypertension – otherwise known as high blood pressure – affects 25% of Australians over the age of 25. It can lead to complications such as stroke, heart and kidney disease.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to invest back into the community through grants to medical researchers in Queensland hospitals, universities and research institutions,” Ms Bligh said.

“It is also great to see that Golden Casket – one of Queensland’s most recognised corporations- continue its strong involvement with our community.

“Golden Casket was born in 1916 to raise funds for the victims of World War I and since 1992 it has contributed almost $20 million to sick children and their families by donating to causes including the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation and Mater Children’s Hospitals.”

Golden Casket Lottery Corporation Limited Chief Executive, Mr Bill Thorburn said he was delighted with today’s announcement.

“We are very pleased to be able to continue to contribute to the Queensland community and we hope that through our various community programs we will continue to make a positive difference to the lives of Queenslanders,” Mr Thorburn said.

The Golden Casket Foundation expects to be calling for the second round of grant applications in March 2006. The successful grant recipients will be announced in September next year.

The idea for the Golden Casket Foundation arose when the winner of a $23.2 million Powerball prize did not come forward to claim the prize. The prize ticket was purchased at Nundah last September and Golden Casket staff are continuing to urge locals to check their entries to see if they are the mystery winner of Australia’s largest unclaimed lotto prize.

The winner has seven years from the date of the draw to claim their prize