Three of Australia’s leading medical researchers have received a combined $4.125 million in funding to advance critical studies in major health illnesses such as cancer treatment, lung infections and malaria surveillance, marking one of the country’s largest investments in medical research for 2024.

The Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Bellberry Ltd, has awarded its prestigious Senior Medical Research Fellowships to Dr Marcel Doerflinger, Dr Rhea Longley and Dr Luke Isbel. Each researcher will receive $1.375 million over five years to pursue their groundbreaking work.

The funding aims to accelerate research in areas affecting millions of Australians. Dr Doerflinger will focus on revolutionising lung infection treatments, Dr Longley will develop effective malaria surveillance and Dr Isbel will work on unlocking new cancer treatments.

“As Australians, one way or another we have all been helped by the dedicated efforts of our medical research community,” said Jodi Kennedy, General Manager of Philanthropy and Community Trustee Services at Equity Trustees. She emphasised how such generous funding enables researchers to make crucial advances in addressing society’s most challenging health conditions.

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The impact of this funding extends beyond individual research projects. Bellberry’s CEO Kylie Sproston said, “We know that providing five years of funding certainty to some of Australia’s most promising mid-career researchers makes a huge difference. It’s an investment that is positive not just for the individual, but often provides enormous benefits to the broader community.”

Professor Christina Mitchell AO, Co-Chair of the Foundation’s Medical Advisory Board, noted the exceptional quality of this year’s candidates, saying, “It is always difficult to choose the winners from such a talented group.”

The Viertel Foundation is managed in partnership with co-trustees Justice Debra Mullins AO (Chair), Paul de Silva and Peter Evans, and is one of Australia’s largest charitable foundations, established with an initial bequest of approximately $60 million. Today the Foundation is worth around $250 million and distributes approximately $9 million annually.