The Western Australian Government has handed a $500,00 cheque to Telethon 2012, as well as $1 million in funding for a new child and adolescent health research program.

 

Premier Colin Barnett said the funding for the new research will be matched by Telethon.

 

Health Minister Kim Hames said WA had a strong track record of funding research with a new clinical trial investigating the use of enzyme injections in the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy funded last year.

 

“This new $2million fund into child and adolescent health research follows a major $5.2million commitment from the Government last year to fund medical research through the Targeted Research Fund,” Dr Hames said.

 

WA Health chief medical officer Dr Gary Geelhoed will head a committee which will consider research proposals to be supported through the fund.

 

Dr Hames said the funding for research was supported by practical improvements to research facilities, including the integration of TICHR at the new children’s hospital, and a Government contribution of $25million to the $112million WAIMR facility which was nearing completion at the QEII Medical Centre.