SYLVIA AND CHARLES VIERTEL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION MARKS 30 YEARS MILESTONE IN FUNDING RESEARCH New Fellowships to researchers in cancer metastasis, epigenomics and AI in early disease diagnosis & management
With
Associate Professor Paul Ekert, Co-Chair,
Medical Advisory Board, Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation
SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney, Melbourne & Adelaide | December 2025
One of Australia’s largest charitable foundations, the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation, is celebrating three decades of transforming Australian healthcare – with more than $90 million invested in medical research and a legacy of breakthroughs that are saving lives. Viertel Fellowships support some of Australia’s best and brightest researchers and clinicians, with 70 Fellowships awarded to date.
In late October 2025, the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation, in association with Bellberry, announced the recipients of the 2025 Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellowships. Three Australian mid-career researchers who are advancing solutions for major illnesses including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases. The 2025 Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellows, who will each receive $1.375 million over five years to support their work, are:
- Dr Joanna Achinger-Kawecka, SAiGENCI for her work in advancing cancer therapy utilising innovative 3D chromatin structure mapping technology.
- Dr Dustin Flanagan, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, for addressing the impact of direct cell damage on gastric cancer initiation and progression.
- Associate Professor Zongyuan Ge, Monash AIM for Health Lab, Monash University for developing a personalised healthcare model integrating diverse patient information collected over time via AI. He is the recipient of a Bellberry-Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellowship.
The Viertel Foundation over 30 years has had significant impact in medical research, including
- Awarding 70 fellowships since 1995, each currently providing $1.375 million over five years to support Australia’s top mid-career researchers.
- 162 Clinical Investigator Awards providing $90,000 over one year have been granted, supporting early-career clinicians and stimulating clinical research across Australia.
- Research infrastructure grants totalling $2.45 million have been awarded, recognising the importance of establishing and maintaining the facilities required for world-class research environments.
- The combined total value of the Clinical Investigator Awards, the Fellowships, and infrastructure grants – including the most recent awards has reached $90,001,250. This substantial investment underscores the Foundation’s enduring commitment to advancing medical research and improving health outcomes for Australians.
- Funding has enabled breakthroughs in cancer, infectious diseases, respiratory illnesses, dementia, stem cell research, and more – directly impacting millions of Australians each year.
Source: Adapted from Equity Trustees media release
Photo Credit: Charles Viertel Photo, Queensland Eye Institute
Photo Credit: AAHMS Gala Dinner, Canberra November 2025, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
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Continuity of Care under COVID-19
Series 3, Episode 1
Under the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Healthcare system has handled the public health crisis by monitoring and responding to challenges in supply chains, testing & tracing of new infections and stock piling of essential equipment.
The public has largely responded by practising social distancing, understanding how hand hygiene can spread contagion and recently installing the COVIDSafe mobile application. Public health messaging has been largely effective and literacy improve, to combat the dangers of misinformation.
To open up access to medical advice during the pandemic, in March the Australian government issued MBS item codes for telehealth consultations, for advanced practice nurses as well as GPs and other specialists.
According to AMA President Dr Tony Bartone, as of mid-May 2020, around 10 million Medicare-funded telehealth services have been provided, either over the phone or via video, a significant majority of which have been provided by GPs and other specialists since the Medicare telehealth items were introduced in March.
However in recent months, the health system has mounting concerns on:
- a reduction in general practice visits for testing, investigation or immunisation
- lower rates of elective procedures resuming since being halted
- reduction in laboratory testing
- reduction in treatments and diagnosis of chronic and acute conditions
- access to, and continuing to take medications
Those with pre-existing conditions have been urged to keep appointments and routine treatments to maintain their health.
Industry has taken action such as the newly formed Continuity of Care Collaboration (CCC). The 15 health organisations forming CCC are an Australian first national communication collaboration of Peak Bodies, Industry and Healthcare Organisations coming together to stress the importance for people to continue monitoring their health and maintaining their regular care.
This Australian Health Journal episode on the continuity of care was produced with commentary from the following health industry associations and organisations: APNA – Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association, RACGP, Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), West Cessnock Medical Practice, Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Medicines Australia
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Challenges of delivering a person centred palliative care model
In this Op-Ed piece GP, Dr Paresh Dawda who has patients in palliative care, and palliative care nurse practitioner Nikki Johnston OAM talk about the issues that need be addressed in the Australian health system to support patients with complex care needs.
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Nurse recognised for reducing hospital waste
A nurse who started a charity from a granny flat in her parent’s backyard to reduce hospital waste has taken out one of the Australian nursing profession’s most prestigious honours.
