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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From paediatric nursing to leadership & private hospital general management
With over 20 years of experience in the Australian and international healthcare sectors, Georgia Banks is a dedicated and results-driven health professional with a proven track record in clinical, financial, human resources, and strategic management. Passionate about delivering high-quality patient care, Georgia possesses an authentic leadership style that fosters engagement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Currently serving as General Manager at Hobart Private Hospital within Healthscope, Georgia has been instrumental in driving operational excellence, enhancing patient experience, and supporting staff development. Her leadership has played a key role in aligning hospital services with strategic priorities while fostering a culture of accountability and innovation.
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App helps Chronic Sleep Deprivation
Earlier this year, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health researchers developed SleepSync, the world’s first app that personalises sleep-wake cycles for shift workers to improve their sleep and overall mood.
The research, led by Dr Jade Murray, was published in the journal, Digital Health. Australian Health Journal met with Dr Murray to hear how the application has evolved and been used in personalisation of sleep habits for health care shift workforce.
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Health Minister’s Awards for Nursing Trailblazers
An ACT nurse dedicated to giving people more dignity and choice in their final days was earlier this week night named the inaugural Health Minister’s Nursing Trailblazer at an awards ceremony in Sydney.
Lord Nigel Crisp, Co-Chair Nursing Now and Australian College of Nursing President, Professor Christine Duffield FACN presented the inaugural Health Minister’s Nursing Trailblazer Award to Nikki Johnston MACN, a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner based in Canberra at Calvary Health Care’s Clare Holland House.
