Lumen Winter 2013 - Flipbook - Page 27
story by Candy Gibson and Catriona Neil-Dwyer
S
uch is the tenuous connection
between the late Veronika Sacco – a
Hungarian immigrant and self-made
woman – and a young South Australian
researcher by the name of Jacqueline
Noll, who is dedicating her life to helping
cancer patients.
On paper, the two have nothing
in common.
Veronika died in March 2010, aged
94. Her life story was a remarkable one.
Despite excelling at school in her native
country and mastering seven languages,
her early days in Australia were character
building, to say the least. Newly divorced
and with a young child to support, she
was forced to walk the streets of western
Sydney lugging suitcases of soap which
she sold door to door.
Through sheer will, intelligence and a
head for finances, Veronika put herself
through university and gained an
accountancy qualification, which paved
the way for a stimulating career and
opened many other doors – to culture,
music, art and business.
Education changed Veronika’s life. In
death, her legacy will no doubt make a
difference to countless others.
In her will, Veronika left a generous
sum to the Florey Medical Research
Foundation in honour of the University of
Adelaide’s most famous alumnus.
“She researched thoroughly where she
chose to give and she was very impressed
with the work of Howard Florey and his
Nobel Prize,” said her good friend and
executor of her will, Fred Bennett.
“Just the possibility of another Nobel
Laureate arising out of her bequest was
also compelling,” Mr Bennett said.
For young scientist Jacqueline
Noll, being the first recipient of the
Veronika Sacco Clinical Research
Fellowship under the auspices of the
Florey Medical Research Foundation
is “an absolute honour”.
The 27-year-old researcher, who has a
First Class Honours degree in Biomedical
Science and a PhD from the University of
Adelaide, will spend the next three years
investigating new treatment strategies for
a type of bone marrow cancer known as
multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma occurs where
abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow
multiply too fast and prevent the normal
production of other blood cells, such as
red and white cells.
The disease causes bones to break
down, resulting in excruciating pain,
About the Florey Medical
Research Foundation
fractures, recurrent infections and
kidney failure.
About 15 per cent of patients die
within three months of diagnosis and
even with treatment, the average survival
rate of multiple myeloma sufferers is
approximately five years. There is no cure.
Dr Noll’s research is focused on learning
more about how the cellular composition
of bone marrow is altered by the presence
of multiple myeloma tumours.
“If we can identify key changes in the
bone microenvironment we may be able
to develop novel treatment strategies
to limit the progression of the disease,”
Dr Noll said.
“Approximately 1400 people are
diagnosed with multiple myeloma in
Australia each year, an increase of 44 per
cent in the past 25 years. Despite recent
advances in treatment strategies, the
10-year survival rate is only 17 per cent,”
Dr Noll added.
The Florey Fellowship will enable Dr Noll
to establish herself as an independent
researcher in a field of cancer research
which has not traditionally received
much attention.
“I have always been interested in cancer
research and I hope that one day my work
will lead to better and improved therapies
for cancer patients. The work of Howard
Florey is incredibly inspirational and this is
a wonderful opportunity for me to strive
towards greater things,” she said.
Chairman of the SA Division of the
Myeloma Foundation, Ian Driver, who is
currently in remission from the disease,
said the work of researchers such as
Dr Noll was critical to patients.
“Dedicated scientists like Dr Noll are
doing some wonderful research, both to
find a cure or just make our lives more
bearable. Finding a cure is a long process
but we are hanging in there,” he said.
Left: Jacqueline Noll
Photo by Chris Tonkin
Inset: Veronika Sacco
The Florey Medical Research Foundation
is named in honour of Nobel Prize winner
and medical graduate of the University of
Adelaide, Lord Howard Florey. The Foundation
was established in 1992 and has been raising
funds to support medical research for more
than 20 years.
Achievements include the funding of
numerous and diverse research scholarships,
major research projects, and in 2012,
the appointment of three full-time Florey
Research Fellows.
The Foundation relies entirely on voluntary
donations and it is thanks to our generous
donors that many young researchers are not
only realising their own goals but working
to make a lasting difference to the lives
of everyday people – helping them lead
healthier and longer lives.
Together we can make a
difference - please help us
to continue our work
A bequest, or gift by will, no matter how large
or small, is an effective way of providing
a permanent legacy – a gift that creates
something of everlasting significance and
importance. The Florey Medical Research
Foundation welcomes bequests of all sizes
and these may be directed to a specific area
of research.
For a confidential discussion please contact
the University of Adelaide’s Planned Giving
Officer, Mrs Sue Fox on +61 8 8313 3234
or email: susan.fox@adelaide.edu.au
If you have already planned a gift, we
encourage you to let us know about it so
that we can recognise your intentions during
your lifetime.
For more details about the Florey
Medical Research Foundation go to
www.florey.adelaide.edu.au,
email: florey@adelaide.edu.au
or phone: +61 8 8313 3995.
The University of Adelaide | Alumni Magazine 25
