❓ Mr. Hatton asks about the benefits of the government's neurotrauma research funding. The Minister for Health details the potential benefits of cooling spinal cords after injury, highlighting a $1 million investment in a research program led by Professor Dunlop in conjunction with St John Ambulance and a national trial.
AnsweredQoN 298Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NEUROTRAUMA RESEARCH — FUNDING
298. Mr C.D. HATTON to the Minister for
Health:
I note the announcement this morning
on the government's funding for neurotrauma research. Could the
Minister for Health please advise the house on the benefits of this project to
the community?
298. Mr C.D. HATTON to the Minister for
Health:
I note the announcement this morning
on the government's funding for neurotrauma research. Could the
Minister for Health please advise the house on the benefits of this project to
the community?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Balcatta for
the question. The current government has been a very strong supporter of
high-level medical research in Western Australia since it has been in
government. That has been further demonstrated by the allocation of $1 million
to the neurotrauma research program, which was included in the budget presented
by the Treasurer last week.
It is the case, sadly, that about 80
Western Australians suffer a spinal cord injury each year, which leads to
permanent paralysis of one degree or another—the most ultimate
consequence, of course, is with a patient ending up with quadriplegia. Whatever
the injury, it clearly has a major impact on the individual and their families,
both physically and psychologically. It is believed from early research that
has been undertaken that the cooling of a spinal cord by way of cooling the
whole body as early as possible after an injury may well have a beneficial
effect, resulting in less degenerative damage to the spinal cord, the neurones
and associated structures, which leads to a much better outcome. The $1 million
that has been provided will assist the neurotrauma research program. This
particular research will be led by Professor Sarah Dunlop, who is to undertake
research in conjunction with St John Ambulance throughout Western Australia and
to participate in a national trial to, hopefully, prove the fact that lowering
a person's temperature to about 33 or 34 degrees has a beneficial
effect and may ultimately result in a much better outcome for people who would
otherwise be very seriously impacted by the effects of such an injury.
The early research is promising and
I am sure everyone will be very keen to see over the next two or three years
the results of this clinical trial that will be undertaken within Western Australia
in conjunction with other states, particularly in conjunction with the research
that is being undertaken in Victoria. I wish all the participants in the trial
and those undertaking the research well in getting an outcome and hopefully
providing much better ultimate outcomes for clinical treatment for patients who
tragically suffer spinal cord injuries in Western Australia.
the question. The current government has been a very strong supporter of
high-level medical research in Western Australia since it has been in
government. That has been further demonstrated by the allocation of $1 million
to the neurotrauma research program, which was included in the budget presented
by the Treasurer last week.
It is the case, sadly, that about 80
Western Australians suffer a spinal cord injury each year, which leads to
permanent paralysis of one degree or another—the most ultimate
consequence, of course, is with a patient ending up with quadriplegia. Whatever
the injury, it clearly has a major impact on the individual and their families,
both physically and psychologically. It is believed from early research that
has been undertaken that the cooling of a spinal cord by way of cooling the
whole body as early as possible after an injury may well have a beneficial
effect, resulting in less degenerative damage to the spinal cord, the neurones
and associated structures, which leads to a much better outcome. The $1 million
that has been provided will assist the neurotrauma research program. This
particular research will be led by Professor Sarah Dunlop, who is to undertake
research in conjunction with St John Ambulance throughout Western Australia and
to participate in a national trial to, hopefully, prove the fact that lowering
a person's temperature to about 33 or 34 degrees has a beneficial
effect and may ultimately result in a much better outcome for people who would
otherwise be very seriously impacted by the effects of such an injury.
The early research is promising and
I am sure everyone will be very keen to see over the next two or three years
the results of this clinical trial that will be undertaken within Western Australia
in conjunction with other states, particularly in conjunction with the research
that is being undertaken in Victoria. I wish all the participants in the trial
and those undertaking the research well in getting an outcome and hopefully
providing much better ultimate outcomes for clinical treatment for patients who
tragically suffer spinal cord injuries in Western Australia.
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