Rally for Research for a Healthy Future
Starts at midday. Speeches begin at 12.30pm
Forrest Place, Perth
Hundreds of researchers from Perth's The Kids for Child Health Research will join a rally in Forrest Place today to oppose Australian Government plans to cut medical research funding in the federal budget.
Institute Director Professor Fiona Stanley said she had been overwhelmed by community support.
"What's very clear is that our community not only values health and medical research, they are relying on it to provide a better future," Professor Fiona Stanley.
"Most families have been affected in one way or another by serious disease or disability, and every one of them will tell you that finding ways to prevent or better treat these problems should be a priority."
Professor Stanley said WA has a vibrant research sector that works closely with health services to ensure the latest research is translated quickly into better treatments for patients.
"Our research capabilities mean that many West Australians are part of international clinical trials and long term studies that ensure we stay at the cutting edge of medical treatments," she said.
"No patient wants to be the last to know about a new development that could reduce their pain or improve their chances of recovery."
Professor Stanley said a cut to research funding would lead to the next generation of health researchers looking overseas for jobs.
"A large proportion of excellent research applications already battle to get funding - a cut of any size would be devastating when what we desperately need is an increase," Professor Stanley said.
"We are grateful to the community for their strong message to Government that they want medical research quarantined from any budget cuts."
The Kids for Child Health Research is Western Australia's largest medical research facility. More than 500 staff and students are working to prevent the most common and devastating childhood diseases and disabilities.