SYLVIA AND CHARLES VIERTEL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION MARKS 30 YEARS MILESTONE IN FUNDING RESEARCH New Fellowships to researchers in cancer metastasis, epigenomics and AI in early disease diagnosis & management
With
Associate Professor Paul Ekert, Co-Chair,
Medical Advisory Board, Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation
SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney, Melbourne & Adelaide | December 2025
One of Australia’s largest charitable foundations, the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation, is celebrating three decades of transforming Australian healthcare – with more than $90 million invested in medical research and a legacy of breakthroughs that are saving lives. Viertel Fellowships support some of Australia’s best and brightest researchers and clinicians, with 70 Fellowships awarded to date.
In late October 2025, the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation, in association with Bellberry, announced the recipients of the 2025 Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellowships. Three Australian mid-career researchers who are advancing solutions for major illnesses including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases. The 2025 Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellows, who will each receive $1.375 million over five years to support their work, are:
- Dr Joanna Achinger-Kawecka, SAiGENCI for her work in advancing cancer therapy utilising innovative 3D chromatin structure mapping technology.
- Dr Dustin Flanagan, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, for addressing the impact of direct cell damage on gastric cancer initiation and progression.
- Associate Professor Zongyuan Ge, Monash AIM for Health Lab, Monash University for developing a personalised healthcare model integrating diverse patient information collected over time via AI. He is the recipient of a Bellberry-Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellowship.
The Viertel Foundation over 30 years has had significant impact in medical research, including
- Awarding 70 fellowships since 1995, each currently providing $1.375 million over five years to support Australia’s top mid-career researchers.
- 162 Clinical Investigator Awards providing $90,000 over one year have been granted, supporting early-career clinicians and stimulating clinical research across Australia.
- Research infrastructure grants totalling $2.45 million have been awarded, recognising the importance of establishing and maintaining the facilities required for world-class research environments.
- The combined total value of the Clinical Investigator Awards, the Fellowships, and infrastructure grants – including the most recent awards has reached $90,001,250. This substantial investment underscores the Foundation’s enduring commitment to advancing medical research and improving health outcomes for Australians.
- Funding has enabled breakthroughs in cancer, infectious diseases, respiratory illnesses, dementia, stem cell research, and more – directly impacting millions of Australians each year.
Source: Adapted from Equity Trustees media release
Photo Credit: Charles Viertel Photo, Queensland Eye Institute
Photo Credit: AAHMS Gala Dinner, Canberra November 2025, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
-
Growing impact of blood cancer on women
According to the Leukaemia Foundation, blood cancer is one of the most urgent and under-recognised women’s health issues in Australia, with three times more Australian women diagnosed with blood cancer than ovarian and cervical cancer combined (Source: AIHW, Cancer Data in Australia, 2024).
Blood cancer has also emerged as the second most common cancer diagnosed in Australian women overall – behind only breast cancer – and the leading cancer amongst girls and women under the age of 30 (Source: AIHW, Cancer Data in Australia, 2024).
-
Ensuring stringent quality standards in the lifecycle of medical devices
Dr Jasjit Baveja is the Associate Director of Policy at the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), where she oversees regulatory affairs, clinical code of practice, procurement, industry policy, reimbursement, and advocacy. With over 20 years of experience in the medical device regulatory space, Dr Bavej’s expertise lies in providing educational opportunities for regulatory professionals in Australia to ensure continuous learning and professional development. She collaborates closely with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to run workshops that provide invaluable experience, networking opportunities, and skill enhancement.
-
Career advice from an Emergency Physician in Research
Associate Professor Viet Tran, an experienced emergency physician at the Royal Hobart Hospital. He spoke with Australian Health Journal about the crucial role of emergency departments as the frontline of hospitals, providing immediate care, diagnosis, resuscitation, and serving as a safety net for the healthcare system. Prof. Tran highlights the importance of understanding the daily responsibilities and core aspects of a specialty when choosing a medical career.
