Generous funding from the Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust, Rotary Tasmania and some Lions Clubs will support the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Genetic Heart Disease Registry for the next four years.

Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust supported the establishment of the Tasmanian branch in 2010 as part of an Honours research project, which was conducted by Jessica Kawa and Carli Armstrong under the guidance of Associate Professor Don McTaggart from Launceston General Hospital (pictured being interviewed at the branch launch) and Dr Kathryn Ogden from the University of Tasmania. During this time, over 130 Tasmanians have joined the Registry.

This valuable renewed source of funding from the Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust, Rotary Tasmania and participating Lions Clubs will be used to help Tasmanians with a genetic heart disease and their families. It will also help Tasmania contribute to Australia-wide efforts to improve knowledge on these conditions.

Part of the funds will be used to employ a part-time Registry Research Assistant to continue the process of identifying and registering Tasmanians. It will also help engage clinicians across Tasmania like Dr Paul MacIntyre, Head of Cardiology at Royal Hobart Hospital, who is now inviting families in the south to enrol.

Australian Genetic Heart Disease Registry Chair Professor Chris Semsarian said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust, Rotary Tasmania and involved Lion Clubs for their generous support. The Registry is a very important part of our research in saving lives from genetic heart disease.

“This joint funding will enable us to have a much-needed presence in Tasmania to ensure we can continue to learn about genetic heart disease in Australia and improve awareness and treatment of these conditions.”

Dr Kathryn Ogden, Senior Research Fellow from the Launceston Clinical School at the University of Tasmania: “The support that has been provided by the Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust, Rotary Tasmania and some Lions Clubs will ensure that the good work done by Jess and Carli will continue. The funding will help us promote awareness of the Registry to GPs and cardiologists in Tasmania, and contribute to its ongoing sustainability.

“We believe our involvement in the Registry will help us gather the evidence required to ensure people with genetic heart disease in Tasmania have access to the necessary services.”

More information

For more information about the Registry or to enquire about joining, please email the Tasmanian branch or call (03) 6348 8790.