MDFA grant supports new research project

Macular Disease Foundation Australia is proud to be partnering with the Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) and Carers NSW in an important new research project which has attracted a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) partnership grant.

The aim of the new research project is to enhance the health and wellbeing of family carers of people with age-related macular degeneration by improving the design and delivery of existing support services and programs.

The project will be led by Associate Professor Bamini Gopinath from WIMR and is a direct result of a large research project “The Ripple Effect of Vision Loss” conducted by the Foundation in 2013 involving people with age related macular degeneration and their carers.

Dr Gopinath assisted MDFA with the detailed analysis and subsequent publication of the original “The Ripple Effect of Vision Loss” research. This research was published in the prestigious journal, Aging and Mental Health.

The newly funded research program is designed to address the issues identified in the earlier research.

The Foundation’s Research Grants Program will contribute $100,000 over three years to the new research project. It will also deliver in-kind support by providing part of a coordinated multi-component intervention designed to reduce caregiver burden and stress.

Congratulations to Dr Gopinath for her success in securing significant additional funding from the NHMRC to conduct this work.

MDFA thanks Bayer for the support of the original “Ripple Effect of Vision Loss” 2013 research project, and all of the Foundation’s clients who participated in that research.

Posted: 8 July 2016