The new head of the St George and Sutherland Medical Research Foundation (SSMRF) hopes to double the foundation’s income in the next 18 months.
New chief executive Jacquie Stratford took up the top job in July with a major part of her role being fund raising. The foundation has been running for 10 years and supports research at St George Hospital and Sutherland Hospital.
The foundation recently gave away a record $1 million of research grants at the two hospitals, for microbiome (bacteria) research.
Ms Stratford said she was passionate about medical research and revealed the foundation currently raised about $1 million a year.
“I would like to double it over the next 18 months,” she said.
“I think we have to put our targets higher and aim a bit higher. And just tell people that we have the researchers but they need the money to do the research, and if they get that money the results can be forthcoming.”
She said she would also like to find extra funding to strengthen the new Microbiome Research Centre at St George Hospital.
Ms Stratford has a long history both in fund raising and medical research.
“I started off at the University of Sydney in medical research, and worked for over 20 years,” she said.
She then went into senior administration at the university and worked with the Melanoma Foundation at the University of Sydney, helping the foundation raise millions of dollars.
The SSMRF’s biggest fund raising event is being held on November 11, the Michael Tynan Memorial Challenge. Get behind the event by signing up here.
Ms Stratford has taken over from former chief executive Peter Christopher.