Posted 27 February 2025
On Valentine’s Day eve, SVI’s annual For the Love of Science dinner transported 250 passionate and generous supporters of medical research to the romantic streets of Paris at Fitzroy Town Hall.
Entertained by can-can dancers and serenaded by opera singer Stephen Smith, guests joined together to collectively raise more than $225,000 to support new Rising Star Awards for SVI’s young researchers.
SVI’s Rising Star Awards help to advance the careers of enterprising scientists early in their career by providing $40,000 to fund innovative new projects that could be the next big step in scientific discovery.
SVI Director Tom Kay said:
“The young scientists at SVI are the engine room of the work we do. They are the people creating the future.”
“The return on your investment in this Program is a highly motivated and expert workforce working on problems relevant to you and your families whether it is heart disease, diabetes, cancer or dementia.”
SVI Foundation Chair, Jeremy Gobbo KC said:
“We live in times where so many people look for instant gratification. Can I suggest to you that there is no greater or longer lasting gratification than doing good for other people and seeing wide benefit from that.
“Our Rising Stars are true stars. How about hitching your star to one of our stars? Come and visit us at SVI. Build a relationship with one of our many stars – it will be inspiring.”
Dr Emma van der Westhuizen was awarded a Rising Star Award last year to aid her research into finding new treatments for dementia, says, “To try and develop a medication that slows down the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease would be a really great thing to be able to do. I would like to thank the donors for helping me try to achieve that.”
One of the program’s inaugural recipients, Dr Astrid Glaser, has since received the Captain Courageous Fellowship from Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision for her work in genetic blood disorders, bringing us one step closer to a potential cure for a debilitating childhood disease.
SVI extends its gratitude to everyone involved in the event, and especially to:
Major Event Sponsor: Village Roadshow
Table sponsor: The Kay & Burton Foundation
MC, auctioneer and opera singer: Stephen Smith
For the Love of Science Committee: Karen Inge, Caroline Cornish, Caroline Daniell, Mem Kirby, Jenny Lempriere, and Michael Strownix.
Learn more about our Rising Stars