Brain Foundation

Last Sunday (November 3rd), the Wagga Wagga community came together for the second annual Fishing for Kyan Community Day. This event was founded in memory of Kyan Armstrong, a vibrant 15-year-old student who tragically passed away from a ruptured aneurysm. Fishing was one of Kyan's many passions, so Kyan's family established this now annual event to honour his memory, raise research funds, and support their local community. It was a beautiful day and a fantastic event, with plenty of fishing as well as a raffle, barbecue, and the opportunity to connect with so many in the Wagga Wagga community. The Brain Foundation was represented by our CEO, Trevor Thompson, and Fundraising Manager, Vanessa Mundell. "Brain disorders, diseases and injuries touch virtually every family in some way. However, when it takes the life of an effervescent 15 year old boy such as Kyan it's simply devastating for his parents, extended family and friends," Trevor says. "The Wagga community has been amazing in its support of Fishing for Kyan. There can be no cures or better treatments without research, and there can be no research without funding. Wagga, take a well deserved bow because your efforts need to be congratulated." Thank you so much to everyone who has supported this wonderful event. Your contributions will help so many through research. #FishingForKyan #Fundraiser #Aneurysm Damian Armstrong

Congratulations to Prof Frederic Meunier and Dr Shanley Longfield, two of our research grant recipients for 2024. They are researching frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a type of dementia that affects memory, language, and behaviour. One of the key pathological drivers of FTD is that Tau molecules mutate, becoming toxic and disrupting normal brain communication. This leads to cognitive decline and brain cell loss. It's currently not known what causes Tau to mutate in this way. Prof Meunier and Dr Longfield are using state-of-the-art single molecule super-resolution microscopy to uncover the pathological journey of Tau molecules. By visualising these processes in unprecedented detail, it would provide crucial insights into how FTD develops and pave the way for future treatments. This year we will be highlighting each of our grant recipients over the next few weeks, so keep an eye on our social media to learn more about our 2024 grant recipients. You can see the full list now on our website at https://lnkd.in/e73SY9wU #Dementia #BrainResearch

Congratulations to Dr Sarah Holper, one of our research grant recipients for 2024. She is researching Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. Dr Holper and her team are investigating a potential ‘anti-tau’ Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment. The study is a world-first placebo-controlled trial among 60 participants with mild to moderate AD, and they will assess the change in levels of blood tau after 6 months. This year we will be highlighting each of our grant recipients over the next few weeks, so keep an eye on our social media to learn more about our 2024 grant recipients. You can see the full list now on our website at https://lnkd.in/e73SY9wU #AlzheimersDisease #BrainResearch #Dementia

It's that time of year again where we can begin to share the recipients of our 2024 Brain Foundation Research Grant program. Congratulations to Dr Briony Gliddon, one of our research grant recipients for 2024. She is researching glioblastoma, a lethal type of brain cancer with limited treatment options. Dr Gliddon and her team will be investigating a new therapeutic approach for glioblastoma. They are targeting sphingolipids, a molecule that plays a role in tumour growth, and hope that a specific protein inhibitor could reduce tumour growth. The protein inhibitor has passed phase 1 clinical trials for safety in humans, so if the treatment is successful, this could be life-changing for people diagnosed with glioblastoma. Over the next month we will be highlighting each of our grant recipients on social media. Each research grant is a crucial step towards improving treatments, diagnoses, and patient outcomes for people living with neurological conditions. We are so excited to be sharing these brilliant projects and researchers with you. You can see the full list now on our website at ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e73SY9wU #Glioblastoma #GBM #BrainCancer #BrainResearch

🎣 Join Us for the Fishing for Kyan Community Fishing Day! Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 3rd, 2024, and get ready for a fantastic day of fishing at Lake Albert. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just looking to enjoy a day outdoors, this event is perfect for everyone. 📍 Location: Wagga Wagga Boat Club, Nelson Drive, Lake Albert, NSW, Australia 🕗 Time: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM AEDT 🌟 What to Expect: Fun fishing activities Beautiful scenery A chance to meet fellow fishing enthusiasts Come cast your lines and reel in some big catches while soaking in the stunning views of the lake. With plenty of space to relax and connect with nature, it's an ideal setting for creating unforgettable memories with friends and family. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity! Bring your friends, family, and fishing gear for a day filled with fun and adventure. We can't wait to see you there! RSVP and learn more 👉 https://lnkd.in/gjp3myKv #FishingForKyan #Fundraiser #CommunityEvent

Good luck to our wonderful fundraiser, Bernard Ronchi, who is taking part in the New York Marathon next Sunday, November 3rd. Bernard is raising funds for brain research in memory of his father, John, and nephew, Tristan, who both lost their lives to brain disease. "This is a wonderful cause that is close to my heart, and I take great comfort knowing that the money I raise will go towards valuable research that will help future generations," he says. "I am really looking forward to taking on the physical and mental challenge of running the marathon and will be drawing on the inspiration and fantastic support that I have been given by my family, friends, and colleagues." Bernard lives in Melbourne with his wife, Carol, and his three daughters, Isabella, Amelia, and Sophia (pictured). He is travelling halfway across the globe to join 50,000 other runners in the world's largest marathon. Bernard, thank you so much for your incredible support, and good luck! Donate today to support Bernard ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gfD885yT #Fundraiser #TCSNYCMarathon CSL

Save The Date: On Sunday the 17th of November, the Brain Foundation Tamworth Christmas Fair will be bringing a fantastic array of local products, food, and live music to Tamworth Racecourse. If you live in northern NSW (or fancy a weekend away), we hope to see some of you there. This event is one of our longest-running fundraisers - in fact, this year marks the 21st Tamworth Christmas Fair. Over the past two decades they have raised roughly $400,000 for vital, ground-breaking research. We are so thankful to the attendees, stallholders, sponsors, and Event Committee who have helped so many through funding research. Learn more about the Fair ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g_dupbHU

Did you know that we have a library of downloadable fact sheets available on our website? These fact sheets are simple introductory resources intended for patients, their loved ones, and the general public. We recently added five new fact sheets, covering: 🧠 Brain Health 🧠 Migraine 🧠 Migraine Triggers 🧠 Acute Migraine Treatments 🧠 Preventive Migraine Treatments These are helpful if you are just beginning to learn about a condition that you or a loved one has been diagnosed with. They can also be printed and handed out if you would like to raise awareness or host a fundraising event. Visit our website under 'Resources > Fact Sheets' to see the full library of resources on concussion, aneurysm, stroke, and more. #BrainHealth #Migraine #Education

This week is National Carers Week from October 13th to 19th. It is a time to recognise, celebrate and raise awareness about the 3 million Australians who provide care to a family member or friend. Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental health condition, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged. Anyone can become a carer, at any time. At the Brain Foundation we are celebrating National Carers Week because virtually anyone who is living with a brain disease, disorder or injury will require a carer, either temporarily or permanently. Carers are just as much a part of our community as patients, and it's important that we support them. A recent survey found that carers who had good access to support had healthy levels of wellbeing, compared to those who had no or limited access to help. This week we hope you will join us in showing appreciation to carers. Visit the National Carers Week website to learn more about how you can get involved. #NationalCarersWeek #ShowThemYouCare Carers Australia

In recent weeks and months, there has been an increasing focus on the gender pain gap and medical gender bias. Migraine is one of the conditions which has been at the centre of these conversations. As the most common brain disorder in Australia, migraine is also central to the work we do here at the Brain Foundation. Despite women being more likely to experience chronic pain, and the fact that women experience pain differently to men, their pain is more likely to be dismissed in healthcare settings. There is also far less research on pain and pain medication in women. This has negative physical, financial, social, and emotional impacts on women, which can only be addressed through funding research and committing to advocacy. Here are several recent articles & developments which we hope will improve attitudes towards women's pain, and reduce stigma around conditions such as migraine. (1) "How pain is misunderstood and ignored in women", by Bianca Nogrady. Published September 25th in Nature Outlook. (2) "Testing Pain Medication: Early Drug Trials Conducted Exclusively on Men", The Today Show with Dr Nick Coatsworth, September 19th. (3) "Inquiry into Women's Pain", Victorian Department of Health. Community consultation and focus groups have taken place throughout 2024, and the report is expected in early 2025. #Migraine #GenderPainGap