Dr Olivia Holland presenting her
research to the group.

Our visit to Brisbane on Sunday 17th November 2024. More specifically the Princess Alexandra Hospital and the Lions Medical Research Foundation building for “open morning”. Lion Ian Chase drove and Lion Brad and myself enjoyed the scenery. We arrived safely on time but it’s amazing when you turn left instead of right when you exit the carpark, how many steps you add to your Lap the Map numbers. Security personnel escorted us in the right direction.

Morning tea was set up in the courtyard and we were able to catch up with our Lion Bernadette and members of the Highfields North Eastern Downs Lions Club.

Guest Speakers were Dr Dominic Guanzon - current (Lions Medical Research Foundation) LMRF Research Fellow and Dr Olivia Holland, current LMRF Research Fellow.

Dominic spoke on solving a significant problem in Ovarian Cancer by predicting when ovarian cancer recurs and whether it is resistant to cancer drugs. Dominic went into lots of detail on what they are working on now. When completed, this blood diagnostic test would increase survival by 50 to 110% for women with the common type of ovarian cancer. This is where our donations go to help keep doctors like Dominic to continue their research.

Second speaker, Dr Olivia was a dynamite of passion for Diabetes, mainly in women. There were 422 million adults who had diabetes in 2014. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes makes up over a quarter of insulin treated diabetes cases - equating to over 100 women registered with gestational diabetes each day. Olivia is making a positive impact on women and their children who might otherwise be our future diabetics. 

The Lions community is committed to funding research that will impact the health of Australians and people around the world, with diabetes a Global Cause for Lions Clubs International.

We were divided into small groups for the walk around of the scientist labs and work areas where we saw with our own eyes the machines that we purchase with our donations every year. Some were first of their kind, worth millions of dollars.

There is a new laboratory especially set up for junior researchers who are in their final years of school who can book in there for a week to use the most updated research facilities in Queensland.  The SPARQ-ed program (Students Performing Advanced Research Qld Education). This is a unique opportunity for students to explore, hands-on introductory biomedical research, using the latest equipment and technology.

New laboratory especially set up

for juniour researchers.

Two students from Toowoomba have participated in The Junior Research Program; while four Toowoomba students  in years 11 and 12 participated in, and worked alongside qualified researchers. 

Techniques explored in junior research engagement projects are bacterial transformation, studying the cell cycle in cancer, DNA gel electrophoresis, PCR, and DNA extraction. What an amazing opportunity this is for young adults wanting to go down the road of research in their career.

Medical Research can improve many lives and your support can help in kick starting the work of the next generation of researchers.  

Lion Linda Schefe

Lions Linda Schefe, Brad Newton and

Ian Chase ready for the research tour and talk.

Members of Toowoomba Wilsonton Club and Highfields Club enjoyed lunch and fellowship following the research tour.

President m: 0402 299 627

lionsclubofwilsontoninc@gmail.com

PO Box 128 
Drayton North  Qld 4350

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