SENATOR THE HON ANNE RUSTON
Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
Senator for South Australia
THE HON DAN TEHAN MP
Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Member for Wannon
An elected Coalition Government will fund $265,000 to progress the next two stages of critical research into Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD), which takes the lives of approximately 80 Australians per year.
CJD is a rare and serious disease that causes the brain to degenerate, leading to dementia and death. Currently, there is no cure.
This critical funding will be provided to the CJD Support Group Network to ensure that Stage Two and Stage Three of a longitudinal study into the causes and potential treatment of CJD can proceed, expediting research that could save lives.
This study will not only be of great benefit for families in Australia affected by genetic forms of prion disease, but it will also hopefully lead to earlier detection in patients suffering with sporadic CJD.
The Coalition’s commitment was announced as the charity relay Run4CJD, which aims to raise important awareness and funding for CJD, finished in Terang on Friday.
The charity run started at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday 12 October and has covered more than 900 kilometres.
Shadow Health and Aged Care Minister Anne Ruston commended all of the runners who took part in Run4CJD for their incredible commitment to raising important funds and awareness.
“We know that patients battling rare diseases like CJD often face inequitable access to diagnostics and treatments, which makes greater research into these diseases absolutely critical,” Shadow Minister Ruston said.
“That is why the Coalition has committed to funding the next two stages of the CJD study, which will hopefully lead to life-changing or even lifesaving treatments for this serious and rare disease.
“This project has the potential to not only increase our understanding of CJD, but hopefully improve access to early detection and treatment for patients.
“Our $265,000 commitment builds on the Coalition’s proud record of supporting health and medical research, particularly for rare diseases.”
Member for Wannon Dan Tehan MP was part of the Run4CJD team and ran in honour of his mother and aunt.
“My mum Marie passed away from CJD in 2004 and my aunt Helen Arthur in 1984. At the time, we didn’t know much about CJD and we felt very alone,” Mr Tehan said.
“Our hope is this charity run has helped raise much needed awareness and funding for CJD. “I want people to know they are not alone, and I want to help raise money for research that leads to a cure.
“If anyone wants to support our effort, they can donate via our donation page at the CJD Support Group Network webpage.”
CJD Support Group Network director Suzanne Solvyns said her charity had provided $1.8 million to support research projects, provide scholarships, and fund equipment to improve diagnostic testing of CJD.
"Every day we are learning more about CJD and other forms of prion disease," Ms Solvyns said.
"The money raised by last year's Run4CJD helped fund year one of the longitudinal study that will help us to identify early signs of disease so that treatments currently being developed can be successful.”
