Lumen Spring Summer 2023 - Flipbook - Page 20
Giving Day
On 31 October the University will hold its
inaugural Giving Day.
This will be a 24-hour fundraising
challenge where our community has fun,
raises awareness about the benefits of
philanthropy, and has the chance to make a
gift to the cause they are most passionate
about at the University of Adelaide.
The stories on these pages are three of the
14 featured funds for Giving Day 2023.
Gifts to our featured funds advance or
enable important work, from improving
our leading research capacity to protecting
nature, empowering students, and uplifting
our diverse communities.
Lifelines
for stroke
research
Every 10 minutes someone in Australia
suffers a stroke, making it the leading cause
of disability in our country.
In 1992, at just 42 years old, healthy
stockbroker and father of three Peter
Couche became one of the 250,000
Australians who were then living with
the aftermath of a stroke.
Citizen science
supports important
research
Citizen science has boomed in Australia in the past few years, with
volunteers now contributing valuable data to more than 640 projects
nationwide. In addition to representing billions of dollars annually
in volunteered time, citizen scientists contribute to and enable
breakthrough research.
The award-winning Echidna Conservation Science Initiative
(EchidnaCSI) is internationally recognised as an innovative, stateof-the-art citizen science project. Data and samples collected by
citizen scientists over the past five years have enabled new research
into echidna diet, gut bacteria and distribution, which is essential to
support conservation of the short-beaked echidna across Australia.
EchidnaCSI was launched in 2017 by Dr. Tahlia Perry, her PhD
supervisor Professor Frank Grützner and Dr Peggy Rismiller.
Since then, EchidnaCSI has recruited thousands of volunteers to
gather more than 14,000 confirmed Echidna sightings and 800 scat
For 30 years Peter lived with “locked-in
syndrome”, which left his mind untouched
and thriving, but his body almost entirely
paralysed.
Despite the immense challenges presented
by his condition, Peter went on to contribute
significantly to stroke research and
awareness through continued advocacy,
fundraising and sharing his own story.
In 2010 Peter established the Peter Couche
Foundation alongside his brother Stephen
Couche, who has chaired the foundation
for 13 years. During this time, it has raised
nearly one million dollars to support stroke
research.
“Research has led to improvements in
prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation
strategies, resulting in better outcomes
for stroke survivors,” Professor Andrew
Zannettino, Executive Dean of the Faculty
of Health and Medical Sciences says.
Peter was awarded the Pride of Australia
Medal for Courage in 2010, and his story
continues to inspire positive action and
research today. It is estimated 27,428
Australians experienced stroke for the first
time in 2020, highlighting the need for new
research.
The late Peter Couche with his brother Stephen
20
THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
“Looking into the future, several trends are
likely to shape stroke research – advances
in genetics and precision medicine will
enable tailored stroke prevention and
treatment strategies based on individual
risk profiles and genetic factors,” Professor
Zannettino says. “AI and machine learning
will play a more significant role in stroke
diagnosis, treatment decision-making, and
rehabilitation planning.
“Ongoing research on stem cells and
regenerative medicine may offer new
therapeutic approaches for stroke recovery.
Finally, deeper insights into the brain’s
neuroplasticity will guide the development
of more effective rehabilitation programs.”
Sadly, Peter passed away in September this
year. His legacy, however, will continue in
2023 and beyond, with an endowed fund
with the University of Adelaide. The fund
will continue a mission to advance stroke
research, fellowships, and scholarships, with
a goal to raise five million dollars in support
of an academic chair in stroke research at
the University.
“In addition to cutting edge and
translational stroke research, the academic
chair could lead community outreach
initiatives to increase public awareness about
strokes and stroke prevention.”
The University is delighted that a generous
anonymous donor will support the launch of
the fund with $150,000 matched funding for
donations received on Giving Day 2023.
