Our novel treatment for rheumatoid arthritis great breakthrough will begin a clinical trial in late 2024.
The treatment uses an electrical medical device to target the nervous system and trigger the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response. It could help bring hope of relief to the significant number of people with rheumatoid arthritis who do not respond to drug therapy and suffer ongoing pain and disability.
Incredibly, lead researcher Dr Sophie Payne and her team have progressed the treatment, currently in trials for Crohn’s disease, from the seed of an idea to clinical trial in just two years. This achievement was made possible with the kind generosity of Neville and Di Bertalli, two of the Bionics Institute’s most long-standing supporters.
The promising results, developed with their generous contribution, have enabled us to leverage other funding and we are delighted to announce a successful grant from the Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund (VMRAF) to help our researchers move one step closer to creating a drug-free and pain-free future for those with rheumatoid arthritis.
This is one of several grants that have been made possible by Di and Neville’s support of the Bionics Institute. For every dollar they have donated, we have been able to secure a further three dollars, multiplying their impact and leaving a legacy for generations to come.
Di and I have seen the world benefit from the many leaps forward in medical treatments over our lifetime, like the cochlear implant. We, and our family, are passionate about supporting medical research and inspiring the next generation of brilliant minds to transform lives. Neville Bertalli
