Last year the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research launched Perkins Partners, a dynamic corporate partnership program tailored to businesses keen to engage with the Perkins, to demonstrate their commitment and understanding of the link between a healthy community, healthy business and support life changing WA medical research.
The Perkins Partners exemplify the power of collaboration and as a Partner, businesses are invited to exclusive events, have networking opportunities with valued Perkins stakeholders and align their businesses with a world-class research institution.
A key feature of becoming a Perkins Partner is being paired with a PhD student researcher, with funds being allocated to the Lifeboat Opportunity Grant which will keep a talented student afloat, help them continue their research and sustain their careers to make the next life-saving disease discovery - fighting cancer, heart disease, diabetes and genetic conditions.
“In choosing to become a Perkins Partner, your organisation is doing something that will benefit the future health of the people who matter most in your life.
“Your tax-deductible donation of $10,000 to support WA researchers at the Perkins could lead to a life-changing discovery, a breakthrough and one day, even a cure.
“It is never easy, but I know that medical research is the sole reason survival rates for many diseases are rising, and why more of these once fatal diseases are now treatable and survivable,” said Perkins CEO, Professor Peter Leedman AO.
Dedicated to tackling some of the world’s toughest diseases, the Perkins was established in 1998 to unify scientists in a single collaborative world-leading research centre that supports life-saving breakthroughs that will improve the lives and health of all Australians.
“Imagine a future where your business is not just known for its products or services, but for its role in curing cancer, in advancing medical science, and in making WA a leader in global health.
“That is the future we are building at the Perkins, and that is the future we invite businesses to be a part of,” said Professor Leedman.
timg has teamed up with the Perkins and is now a Perkins Partner.
WA State Manager, Ivan Dennis was keen for timg to be a Perkins Partner.
timg runs a secure and efficient off-site storage solution for physical files and document boxes – matched with advanced, user-friendly software, people can access their complete inventory online to easily catalogue, retrieve, digitise and destroy documents on demand.
“One of our core values and vision relates to making a difference in the community.
“While there’s 1000 ways to do good in the community the Perkins resonated with a cross section of us in the senior leadership team who have had family affected by the very diseases the Perkins is working towards solutions for.
“It’s incredibly exciting to think we could help someone make that breakthrough that will help thousands of people.”
timg has paired up with Perkins PhD researcher, Yiheng Lyu.
As a Perkins Partner, a business's annual tax-deductible donation over three years will provide a vital lifeline for one deserving student so they can concentrate on completing their degree while gaining valuable work experience at the Perkins.
As a Perkins Partner, the business receives updates from the student they’re supporting on their progress, and the donation will go towards keeping them afloat to continue their research.
“We are a small and close-knit team of very much like-minded individuals so I know our employees will be as supportive as I am, and as I said there’s many ways of giving back to the community but to be involved in the bleeding edge of human research is really something else,” said Ivan.
“The mere fact we will be able to meet the researcher doing these amazing things means it’s not just a number, it’s not just about providing some funding, it's being part of that journey, wherever it ends up.
“To me that is priceless.”
Inaugural Lifeboat grant recipient, PhD student in the Advanced Clinical and Translational Cardiovascular Imaging Lab at the Perkins, Yiheng Lyu, says his research focuses on developing AI solutions to streamline clinical workflows and support decision-making.
Yiheng hopes to combine his expertise in physics, AI, and cardiovascular research to develop prognostic models for radiation-induced cardiovascular disease in breast cancer survivors, ultimately improving outcomes in both cardiology and oncology.
“To other PhD student researchers at the Perkins, I’d say the Lifeboat initiative is another wonderful example of the incredible support we always receive here — both financial and non-financial,” he said.
“The Lifeboat initiative has allowed me to fully dedicate myself to my research without needing to take on extra teaching hours (even though I genuinely enjoy working with my students!).
“Beyond the financial support, it provides a real sense of security — something essential for doing meaningful research.”
For more information, please go to perkins.org.au/perkins-partners or contact Celia Byatt, Corporate Engagement Partner on 0420 802 119
