A LEADING MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE SPECIALISING IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS
Alzheimer’s Research Australia
With Professor Vicky Vass, Chief Executive Officer
ORGANISATIONS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH
Filmed in Perth, Western Australia | November 2024
Professor Vicky Vass serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Alzheimer’s Research Australia, which is based in Perth, Western Australia. Australian Health Journal met with Professor Vass to hear of the organisation’s mission to solve the mysteries surrounding Alzheimer’s disease, and focus on detection as the key to their efforts.
Founded in 1993, the organisation now comprises a large research team, a clinical trials division, and an administrative support team. Their aim is to make Alzheimer’s a distant memory through rigorous research.
Their philosophy revolves around operating as one cohesive team, which includes all these parts as well as the board, fostering effective collaboration. Leading this team is Professor Ralph Martins AO, as the Chief Inspector in their mission. He focuses on uncovering pathways for prevention, intervention, and the latest treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Among the key studies highlighted by Professor Vass is the blood biomarker study led by Professor Ralph Martins, which aims to develop a cost-effective method for detecting Alzheimer’s through a simple blood test. Currently, detection methods involve multiple scans and intense processes, but this initiative could transform the landscape by making detection more accessible and affordable.
Another study is run by Dr. Prashant Bharadwaj who heads the research on childhood dementia, focusing on providing hope to the youngest patients affected by these debilitating diseases. His work is dedicated to ensuring that children have a future filled with memories rather than loss, striving to find ways to detect and ultimately cure childhood dementia.
The board of Alzheimer’s Research Australia comprises a diverse group of individuals, including academics and those involved in commercial work and aged care. The common goal uniting them is to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Funding for the organisation primarily comes from donations and rely heavily on this support, as they do not receive significant government funding, although they do get some grants for research.
Professor Vass describes Alzheimer’s Research Australia as an incredible place to work, boasting a community akin to a family. Every role within the organisation is respected, contributing to a common goal of making Alzheimer’s a distant memory for future generations.
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Improving access to osteopathic services and integrated care models
The Chief Executive Officer of Osteopathy Australia, Antony Nicholas spoke with Australian Health Journal about:
– Involvement in the Strengthening Medicare Task Force
– The unique skills osteopaths have that can address the chronic disease burden
– Current workforce issues around osteopaths and if enough are coming through via student placements
– How uploading data to My Health Record by osteopaths could assist team-based care of patients
– How the value of osteopaths in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) could be better understood and better access for residents
– The recommendations around aged care access to allied health services, including osteopathy
– The recommendations around consumer access to osteopaths and GP referrals
– Other osteopathy recommendations in the upcoming Federal BudgetIn the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
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Investigating use of dietary supplements for osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability affecting over 2 million Australians, according to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report on Chronic musculoskeletal conditions (2024) and 595 million people globally, according to BD 2021 Osteoarthritis Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of osteoarthritis, 1990–2020. It represents a significant public health burden that diminishes quality of life among ageing populations.
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Awareness campaigns and HCP Toolkits for thyroid health
In 2021, the Australian Thyroid Foundation released analysis to show, well over 1 million Australian are living with an undiagnosed thyroid disorder, including thyroid cancer, lower IQs, lifelong disability, and a causal or possible contributory factor – in the development of other neurological disorders such as ADHD and autism. Some of the challenges for diagnosis and treatment can be addressed by producing material for health care practitioners during patient presentations.
‘Recent statistics show well over 1 million Australians are living with an undiagnosed thyroid disorder, awareness and testing can prevent unwarranted outcomes for mothers and their babies’ says ATF CEO Beverley Garside OAM
The Australian Thyroid Foundation has lodged a Pre-Budget Submission for the Federal Budget 2024-25 to counter increasing misinformation on social media creating dietary deficiencies such as an increasing number of young women, who are planning pregnancy or already pregnant opting for plant based milks such almond, soy or oat milk coffee as an alternative to standard cow’s milk, which is a source of iodine and alternate milks do not include.
