Release date: 1/12/2010
Baulderstone has upgraded two laboratories at The Prince Charles Hospital to support the development of the BiVACOR™ artificial heart.
CEO of The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation Kate Ashton said earlier this year Baulderstone and the Foundation signed a multi-year funding agreement to support the BiVACOR™ project. “When the Baulderstone engineers toured the lab at TPCH, they instantly started talking about funding a custom fit out on top of their already substantial commitment to support the project,” Ms Ashton said. Associate Professor John Fraser, head of the BiVACOR™ program, said the support from Baulderstone will help the team make significant progress in their work. “The partnership funding and the lab renovation demonstrate Baulderstone’s dedication to helping us perfect the BiVACOR™ device which will be a life saving alternative for hundreds to thousands of people each year waiting for a heart transplant,” Dr Fraser said. “We have managed to attract some incredibly bright and talented young engineers to work on this device, but without corporate support we wouldn’t be able to pay enough staff or buy the equipment we need.” Baulderstone has committed $150,000 over three years in addition to renovating the BiVACOR™ laboratories. Dr Fraser and Ms Ashton will join dozens of Baulderstone staff for a fun run this Sunday morning to mark the end of a six-week staff health challenge, raising money to support the BiVACOR™ project. The Foundation’s Ambassador for Healthy Lifestyles, Biggest Loser 2009 Finalist Sharif Deen, will join the run. The run will start at 7am from Kangaroo Point and pass five Baulderstone-constructed bridges in the CBD, finishing around 9am at Kurilpa Park, South Bank, for a family barbecue. For information about research supported by The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation or to make a donation, visit www.tpchfoundation.org.au Download the media release (pdf)
Media contacts: Christine Atkinson, The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation ph (07) 3139 6350