Philanthropic ambassadors
Like any far-reaching and ambitious medical research initiative, the Garvan-Weizmann partnership relies on support and investment from generous and forward-thinking individuals and organisations.
The construction of the Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics and solidifying of the partnership was enabled through a $5 million commitment from the NSW Government, matched by visionary donors. However, it is the research being produced through the Centre, and through the partnership, that will shape the future.
Vital initial investment from the NSW Government, Mr John Roth and Ms Jillian Segal AM, Mr and Mrs Laurie and Di Sutton and The Johnny Kahlbetzer Family has funded the construction of the Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics.
Getting off the ground
On that mission, a memorandum of understanding between the Garvan and Weizmann Institutes was signed, cementing a NSW-based collaboration between Israel and Australia and signalling the intention to launch a joint Centre for Cellular Genomics.
Mr Baird was enthusiastic to support the establishment of the Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, and the NSW Government provided substantial seed funding to get the Centre off the ground. However, the NSW Government support alone could not fund the Centre’s development, requiring additional private philanthropic investment.
A world-class Centre in the making
Mr Roth and Ms Segal (pictured left) have been remarkable philanthropic partners to both the Garvan and Weizmann Institutes for many years. Both Institutes have enjoyed long-standing relationships with Mr Roth, Ms Segal and the Roth Charitable Foundation. Additionally, Garvan is fortunate to have Ms Segal as a member of the Institute Board.
As Chair of the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce NSW, Ms Segal was central to bringing the Garvan- Weizmann Centre into being. She says, “When John and I visited Weizmann a number of years ago I was struck by the similarities in many areas of endeavour between the Weizmann and Garvan Institutes. I always thought that some sort of collaboration would be ideal.”
Mr Roth adds, “The future of health care is medical research. We think that collaboration is essential to really move the dial in order to translate that research into the clinic for benefit of our community. This collaboration will benefit the Garvan and Weizmann Institutes, as well as Australia and Israel, and – through great advances in the study of a number of serious diseases, like cancer – humankind will benefit too.”
The generous investment of The Johnny Kahlbetzer Family in the Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics was made by Mr Johnny Kahlbetzer as a memorial to his mother, Mrs Virgina Kahlbetzer. This gift builds on his mother’s long-standing support of Garvan’s lung cancer research. Sadly, Mrs Kahlbetzer passed away from lung cancer in 2013.
Mr Kahlbetzer is committed to lung cancer research and, as part of this commitment, recognises the importance of cutting-edge and innovative medical research such as cellular genomics approaches, which allow researchers to look at the function of an individual cell in unprecedented detail.
Mr Kahlbetzer says, “From my conversations with Garvan’s lung cancer researchers, it’s evident that genomics and single-cell approaches are key in understanding more about the disease, how it develops, and how to make better treatments for patients. The Garvan-Weizmann Centre is going to help researchers bring us better treatment options, like cancer immunotherapy, and improved outcomes for people with not only lung cancer, but all major diseases.”
If you would like to discuss supporting the Garvan-Weizmann partnership, please call Mara-Jean on +61 (0) 2 9295 8513 or email m.tilley@garvan.org.au
