UOW receives another boost from Michael Tynan Memorial Challenge

March 10, 2020

UOW receives another boost from Michael Tynan Memorial Challenge

Funds to be utilised for health and medical research in the Illawarra region

The medical research facility at the University of Wollongong (UOW) accepted a $36,000 donation on Tuesday 10 March 2020. The donation was part of funds raised from the Michael Tynan Memorial Challenge (MTMC).

The Molecular Horizons (MH) facility at UOW has setup research themes to undertake studies and research at a molecular level. The donation from MTMC will be utilised to establish scholarships supporting undergraduate student research in MH research groups. Some examples of research strengths within MH include motor neurone disease, Alzheimer's, cancer therapeutics, molecular neuroscience and protein aggregation related diseases.

The MTMC is made up of a number of annual events bringing together over 300 sponsors, local businesses and supporters of the Challenge who are committed to health in the community.

At the presentation, Tynan Motors Group Director, Madeline Tynan said she is focused on supporting the medical research in the Illawarra community and would continue to be associated with UOW's health and research facilities in the region.

"As a family, we are passionate about giving back to the Illawarra community and as our business grows in the Illawarra region, we are delighted to support the development taking place in the medical research facilities at UOW," she said.

UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Health and Communities) and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health Professor Alison Jones said she was pleased to see the continuous support received from the Illawarra community and Tynan family in raising funds for the Challenge.

"The University is grateful for the continuous support provided by the Tynan family and their commitment to invest in the initiatives which are for the betterment of the Illawarra community. We have a strong focus on improving the health and wellbeing of our community and have dedicated researchers to support our programs," Professor Jones said.

Australian Community Media (ACM) is one of the sponsors in MTMC and its CFO Renee Duffy, who attended the presentation spoke of Tynan family's strong links with the community and UOW and ACM's focus to support the initiative.

"We are delighted to be part of MTMC and look forward to continuing our relationship with UOW and Tynan family to support their initiatives in 2020," Mrs Duffy said.

UOW Distinguished Professor, Antoine van Oijen said the funds would bring the research outcomes closer to the patient.

"This wonderful gift from the Tynan family is a tremendous help to bring our research outcomes closer to the patient. We are excited to use the funding to take our molecular understanding of the causes of disease and use it to improve therapies and diagnostics. This generous donation is a great example of how the community can support medical research and achieve better health outcomes for all of us,” he said.

About Molecular Horizons:

Molecular Horizons will be dedicated to impact-driven research where the world's best molecular research will be put into practice to improve and save lives – illuminating how life works at a molecular level and solving some of the biggest health challenges facing the world. To enable this world-leading research, UOW has invested in a suite of revolutionary technology, including Australia's most powerful biological electron microscope, the Titan Krios cryo-EM microscope.

UOW receives another boost from Michael Tynan Memorial Challenge

UOW receives another boost from Michael Tynan Memorial Challenge

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