Better health through medical research

27 Nov 2013

At a recent Currimundi Combined Probus Club meeting nearly 100 guests listened intently as Sarah Dean from Queensland Institute of Medical Research Berghofer Medical Research Inst (QIMR) shared enthusiastically about how the Institute opened in 1947 in a converted Army Supply Hut where they stayed for 30 years until moving into new premises. 

In the days before air conditioning and mod cons, times were tough. 

Today there are 600 staff, 120 students and 53 labs all working in research to help find cures and medications for cancer, infectious diseases including HIV, mental illness and other complex disorders. 

There is even research going on in our local area of Nambour, testing sunscreens which have proven to help against skin and melanoma cancers.

Sarah surprised everyone in stating that 50 per cent of Australia's population will suffer from some form of cancer, and thereby enforcing the essential nature of this research. 

Many people asked interesting questions and stayed after Sarah's talk to personally speak with and thank her. 

It was a most informative and interesting morning.