Approximately $1.4 million has been committed to support vital Australian research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).
The Judith Jane Mason & Harold Stannett Williams Memorial Foundation (the Mason Foundation) is a charitable trust that was established by a generous donation in 2003 by Judith Jane Mason (nee Williams) and named in honour of her father Harold Stannett Williams, whom Ms Mason described as “a most intelligent, wonderful and charitable man”.
The Mason Foundation was one of the first philanthropic funders to recognise the importance of ME/CFS research, with funding going directly to solving the ongoing challenge of this elusive illness, which has a devastating impact on the lives of many.
The 2024 ME/CFS research grants program, will fund each of the following projects for up to $120,000 per annum over the next three years:
- Dr Daniel Missailidis, La Trobe University - Bottom-up: linking the gut microbiota, immune system and metabolism in ME/CFS
- Prof Paul Fisher, La Trobe University - Diagnostic blood tests for ME/CFS (and Long COVID)
- A/Prof Lucette Cysique, University of New South Wales - Kynurenine pathways in the management of cognitive and physical fatigue in ME/CFS
- Dr Natalie Thomas, University of Melbourne – The ME/CFS Neuroendocrinology Program: identifying the unique steroid "hormone fingerprint" of ME/CFS and related hormone related events and triggers.
Since establishment twenty years ago, the Mason Foundation has awarded more than $26 million of research funding, ensuring ongoing research for ME/CFS and Alzheimer’s disease.
Jodi Kennedy, General Manager, Philanthropy and Community Trustee Services at Equity Trustees, said the Mason Foundation grants are a demonstration of critical collaboration by a research consortium, into a condition that is not well understood or funded.
“The Mason Foundation ME/CFS research grants are the only competitive grants program that continuously funds ME/CFS research in Australia, in the search for a better understanding of how to prevent, treat and care for those experiencing this poorly understood and debilitating condition.” Ms Kennedy said.
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Alicia Kokocinski
General Manager – Marketing & Communications
+61 03 8623 5396 / +61 403 172 024
akokocinski@eqt.com.au
Equity Trustees was established in 1888 for the purpose of providing independent and impartial Trustee and Executor services to help families throughout Australia protect their wealth. As Australia’s leading specialist trustee company, we offer a diverse range of services to individuals, families and corporate clients including asset management, estate planning, philanthropic services and Responsible Entity (RE) services for external Fund Managers. Equity Trustees is the brand name of EQT Holdings Limited (ABN 22 607 797 615) and its subsidiary companies, publicly listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: EQT) with offices in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.