Our Programs
Medical Education
About our Medical Education Programs
The Foundation is committed to improving health outcomes through medical education.
The Foundation provides scholarships and awards for medical students and individuals pursuing further education in medical research and vocation, with a focus on providing opportunities to disadvantaged sectors of the community.
Humanitarian Medical Scholarship
We provide a scholarship for a refugee or disadvantaged non-resident to study medicine at the Australian National University in Canberra. The scholarship provides financial assistance to an individual who meets the selection criteria and is not eligible for Government assistance, with a focus on providing an opportunity for an individual who has overcome significant challenges in the pursuit of medical education. The scholarship was established in partnership with the ANU in 2022.
ANU Indigenous Medical Scholarships
We provide three scholarships for Indigenous medical students at the ANU Medical School. The scholarship was first awarded in 2012 and has seen a number of graduates return to Indigenous communities to provide improved health services in remote regions. The scholarships are valued at more than $100,000 over the course of the degree.
Tony Ayers Prize for Excellence in Research in Translational Medicine
Introduced in 2014, the $15,000 Tony Ayers Prize is awarded annually to a researcher at ANU’s College of Medicine and Psychology. It recognises a scientist who has made a significant contribution to translational research, moving from ‘bench to bedside’ to transform science breakthroughs into clinical application. The award is named in honour of long serving John James Hospital and Foundation Board Member Mr Tony Ayers AC who died in April 2016.
Tony Ayers Prize Recipients
| Year | Recipient | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Dr Anneke Blackburn | Targeting cancer cells with DCA, a cheap non-toxic drug which may offer treatment options for people with recurrent cancer | $5,000 |
| 2015 | Associate Professor Anselm Elders | Translating mouse models to better understand the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiencies | $5,000 |
| 2016 | Professor Robyn Lucas | Vitamin D research leading to policy changes | $5,000 |
| 2018 | Associate Professor Di Yu | Designing new strategies for immunotherapies with molecular mechanisms used by T-cells to regulate and balance the immune response | $5,000 |
| 2019 | Associate Professor Michelle Banford | Consumer focused and consumer led research to improve mental health systems | $5,000 |
| 2021 | Professor Phil Batterham | Development of online mental health tools | $5,000 |
| 2022 | Professor Mark Polizzotto | Clinical trials leading to innovations in HIV and cancer medicine | $15,000 |
| 2023 | Dr Lou Farrer | Integration of digital mental health tools into clinical practice | $15,000 |
| 2024 | Associate Professor Aparna Lal | Identifying upequal impact of climate change and biodiversity loss on populations to drive policy change | $15,000 |