Medical research at University of Wollongong is being boosted by the annual Michael Tynan Memorial Challenge.
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Funds raised from the annual walk is helping researchers fight drug resistant superbugs.
In announcing the date for the walk component of the challenge on October 19 Michael Tynan Memorial Challenger organiser and Tynan Motors Group director Madeline Tynan handed over $30,000 to help assist UOW researchers develop new antimicrobial drugs.
And will help build on the university's research into microbial systems over the past 20 years.
Drug-resistant superbugs are on the rise and it has been estimated that antimicrobial-resistant infections could lead to at least 10 million additional deaths per year and cost the global economy up to $140 trillion by 2050.
The Michael Tynan Memorial Challenge raises funds for medical research at UOW and the St George and Sutherland Medical Research Foundation (SSMRF).
It has traditionally been a one-day event involving some participants doing a walk and others taking part in a paddle, drive or scooter challenge.
More than 120 people took part in the walk from Wollongong to the Sutherland Shire last year.
But this year they will have the option of doing the paddle, drive or ride which will be held on a different day, according to Mrs Tynan.
One of the events may even conclude at a Kembla Grange race meeting.
Mrs Tynan said the event was a great legacy of her late father who was such a strong support of the community.
She said he would be proud of the way the family had continued that work with an event that was further improving the health of local communities.
"The University is addressing regional health challenges by delivering innovative and quality healthcare, and we are proud to be supporting this research work that has a major impact in our community," she said.
UOW deputy vice-chancellor (Health and Communities) and executive dean of the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health Professor Alison Jones thanked Tynan Motors for its support as well as generous people in the community who participated in the challenge.
Prof Jones said Tynan Motors was providing a great example of how business could help academia provide important breakthroughs and solutions for the benefit of everyone.
"We are grateful for the support," she said.
"This generous donation allows us to accelerate the work by our interdisciplinary research teams to fight the current rise in antimicrobial resistant infections in our community.
"Molecular Horizons and the broader Health and Wellbeing initiatives at UOW are all about creating partnerships and working together to improve health."
Professor Jones said that antimicrobial resistance is a significant branch of medical research at UOW and discoveries will be further accelerated when the Molecular Horizons research facility opens at the Wollongong Campus.
"Our research has a strong Illawarra-Shoalhaven focus by battling the spread of superbugs in our regional community. Establishing new approaches in improving health care in our region will also allow us to drive innovation in health care at the global scale".
Mrs Tynan thanked everyone who has supported the charity event over the past three years and encouraged other to join them this year and help it grow and do even more to support health research.
Molecular Horizons:
- Molecular Horizons will be a world-leading molecular life sciences research facility, with a suite of transformative technology including the Titan Krios Cryo-EM microscope, which is only the second, and most advanced, in Australia.
- Molecular Horizons is aimed at solving the world's biggest medical challenges, such as developing new forms of antibiotics and curing cancer.
Michael Tynan Memorial Challenge
- Started in 2016 as a celebration of the life and achievements of philanthropic businessman Michael Tynan, who was a proponent of giving back to the community and supporting medical research.
- Almost $1 million has been raised by the Challenge to assist local medical research over the past three years.
- Event partners include the Kollaras Group, Fairfax Media, Carsales.com, IMB Bank, St George Illawarra Dragons, AFS Solutions, Castrol, WIN Network, Optus, St George Bank, Cliff Lewis Printing, Power 94.9 FM, Wave FM and 2ST.
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