Perron family to put its name to our Institute
Generous support from the philanthropic Perron family will help to take Western Australian research into devastating neurological conditions towards new horizons.
Businessman Mr Stan Perron AM and his wife Jean will lend their name to The Western Australian Neuroscience Research Institute (Perron Institute), a pioneering and leading centre for medical research.
The Perron Institute, which brings together a number of renowned medical and scientific teams, will change its name to the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science (Perron Institute).
Mr Perron said he and his family were very pleased to continue a long-standing relationship with the Institute. The Perron family have been contributing to research into muscular dystrophy and other neurological conditions for more than 30 years, initially supporting the work of the Perron Institute’s founder Emeritus Professor Byron Kakulas.
At a function hosted at Government House last week, Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson AC, Governor of Western Australia, spoke about the importance of the Institute’s investigations into diseases such as stroke, Parkinson’s, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.
The Governor, who is Patron of the Institute said: “This research offers so much hope for the future, not only for muscular dystrophy sufferers but for the possibilities it holds for other neurological and neuromuscular conditions which affect so many people worldwide.”
A fundraising campaign chaired by WA businessman Torsten Ketelsen is midway towards its target of $10 million for the Institute.
“The Institute’s contribution as leaders at the forefront of medical research will be significantly strengthened by the support of one of Western Australia’s most generous philanthropic families, through the Perron Foundation,” Mr Ketelsen said.
One of the Institute’s latest successes is the recent decision by the United States Food and Drug Administration to accelerate approval of a treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This ground-breaking treatment has been developed by Institute Director Professor Steve Wilton and his colleague Professor Sue Fletcher and their team.
Steve Arnott, Chief Executive Officer of the Perron Institute said the Institute is proud of this momentous achievement and the focus remains to be a leader in translating neurological research from the benchtop to benefit those suffering from neurological conditions.
“The support of the Perron Foundation will help to attract other researchers eminent in their fields as the Institute grows in stature into a centre of excellence,” he said.
The Perron Institute, which is building links with a number of universities (including The University of Western Australia, Murdoch University, Edith Cowan University and Curtin University) and other research organisations, will be moving into new facilities at the QEII Medical Centre in March 2017.
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Pictured: Jean and Stan Perron, Governor Sanderson and Prof Steve Wilton