Philanthropy boosts clinical trials
Philanthropy is becoming an increasingly valuable funding source for clinical trials within Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD), according to Gilbert Lorquet, Chief Executive Officer of the NORTH Foundation.
The NORTH Foundation is the official fundraising partner of the NSLHD, and has seen substantial benefits from donor contributions in the past year. “To advance clinical trials across the district, current funding is not enough,” Gilbert explains. “We need philanthropic funding, support from our donors, and grateful patients. This support has already unlocked numerous opportunities for clinical trials in just the last 12 months.” Recognising the importance of fostering a philanthropic culture, Gilbert and his team have initiated training programs for NSLHD clinicians and executive staff. “This year, we’ve conducted four sessions of philanthropy training, involving a variety of clinicians across all facilities in the district,” he says. The aim is to give patients expressing gratitude an opportunity/avenue to support the district’s work through meaningful donations. Philanthropy in the healthcare sector is well- established globally, especially in the US and UK, where wealthy individuals often contribute millions to medical research and healthcare infrastructure. However, in Australia, there is a common perception that the government funds all public health needs, which can hinder philanthropic efforts. “We’ve had to work to overcome that perception,” Gilbert says. Grassroots support has historically played a vital role in Australian philanthropy, but there is a growing trend towards structured giving from wealthy individuals and families. These donors often set up Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs) to manage their philanthropic activities, providing a structured way to support various causes, including medical research. Regular, smaller donations from long-term supporters also contribute significantly. Gilbert highlighted instances where regular donors, giving modest amounts over many years, left substantial
bequests in their wills, resulting in transformative gifts for local hospitals. “For example, one of our hospitals recently received a bequest of over $3 million from a long-term supporter. This is game-changing for them,” he said. The emphasis on clinical trials has seen a significant influx of major gifts and bequests, particularly in cancer research. Greg Poche AO and the late Kay Van Norton Poche AO recently donated $20 million to help establish NORTH S.T.A.R VNP, a new international clinical trials cancer centre. However, Gilbert is keen to broaden this focus. The NORTH Foundation will soon be launching a campaign aiming to fund a range of priority clinical research projects. “We are gathering transformative ideas from clinicians across the district,” Gilbert says. This new campaign represents a significant shift for the district, aiming to secure substantial funding for multiple projects. “This is the start of something big,” Gilbert concludes. “We hope philanthropic support will help transform our clinical trial capabilities for the future.” Donations to the NORTH Foundation can support clinical trials work already underway and also help to accelerate new research projects.
Gilbert Lorquet
You can help support priority projects across the district, including clinical trials at: https://northfoundation.org.au/how-you-can-help/donate/
34 Tomorrow’s medicine today
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