Seed funding from a local company has helped Hunter medical researchers to this week gain almost $4 million in additional funding for a drug trial that is already benefitting local people.

Hunter Medical Research Institute researchers received more than $3.9 million from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in its 2014 funding round for its drug trial that has yielded rapid treatment benefits for stroke victims. Led by Professor Mark Parsons from Hunter New England Health and the University of Newcastle, the TASTE study explores the effectiveness of clot-busting drug Tenecteplase, which is commonly used for heart attacks, over the standard stroke treatment Alteplase.

Earlier this year, the Greater Charitable Foundation awarded the TASTE study $330,000, over three years, to follow on from previous funding to support this and other Stroke research. The Charitable Foundation is funded from the profits of Greater Building Society.

HMRI Director Professor Michael Nilsson said funding from local businesses and other donors such as The Greater play an important part in both allowing research to take place and also attracting other funding.

Greater Charitable Foundation CEO Anne Long said the Foundation and The Greater were delighted to be able to kick-start important research by local researcher that will benefit the people living in the areas in which The Greater operates.

The Greater is an inaugural supporter of HMRI. Funding of HMRI transferred to The Greater Charitable Foundation when it was established in 2011. Together the organisations have provided HMRI with more than $1.3 million.

The University of Newcastle/HMRI researchers received than $17.8 million across 17 projects in this year’s funding from the NHMRC that was announced by Prime Minister Tony Abbott. The TASTE trial project received the most funding.

Image | TASTE study team member Dr Andrew Bivard and Greater Charitable Foundation CEO Anne Long