Scott Morrison, Former Prime Minister of Australia
Former Prime Minister Morrison has supported the Mito Foundation for many years. We are honoured to have Mr Morrison as a Patron of the Mito Foundation.
The Crawley family, who live in his electorate, have been devastatingly affected by mitochondrial disease (mito), and Mr Morrison has provided support to them and our cause.
The foundation thanks Mr Morrison for his ongoing support of both the foundation and families affected by mito.
“Supporting medical research to improve diagnosis and treatment and, ultimately, find a cure for mitochondrial disease, as well as helping the people and families affected by this debilitating disease, is vitally important work.”
Former Prime Minister Morrison
17 September 2020
Watch Scott Morrison’s very supportive message during World Mitochondrial Disease Week.
17 September 2019
Watch Scott Morrison’s very supportive message during Global Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week.
27 September 2018
Scott Morrison highlighted Global Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week during Prime Minister’s Question Time.
20 September 2017
Scott Morrison highlight the work of the Mito Foundation (incorporated as the Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation – AMDF) and Stay in Bed Day.
30 March 2017
Watch Scott Morrison’s tribute to Kara Crawley who lost her battle with mito. Mr Morrison spoke in the Federation Chamber.
Professor Sir Doug Turnbull
Professor Sir Doug Turnbull is the Director of the Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research. Professor Turnbull’s focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the neurological features in patients. With colleagues he is searching for new therapies for patients and he has been actively involved in work to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial DNA disease using an IVF technique called mitochondrial donation.
Doug Turnbull received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2016 “for services to Health Care Research and Treatment particularly Mitochondrial Disease”.
“The Mito Foundation is an outstanding charity helping patients and funding research to help find a cure for mitochondrial disease. The Mito Foundation is also playing a critical role in raising mitochondrial disease awareness and ensures the best possible care for patients. The Mito Foundation also plays a major role internationally working closely with other patient organisations and is one of the major charities setting the agenda for mitochondrial disease research.”
- Professor Sir Doug Turnbull
Professor Edward Byrne AO
Read Professor Ed Byrne's biography on Wikipedia.
“Mitochondrial diseases are becoming increasingly recognised as an important cause of human illness. From their recognition barely half a century ago, they have been recognised as a cause of human diseases affecting many organ systems at different ages. Our knowledge of this area increased enormously firstly through the application of biochemical techniques to delineating respiratory chain deficiencies and in recent decades in the genomic age through the identification of mutations firstly in the mitochondrial then in the nuclear genome. With this increased understanding of causation, work is going on around the World looking at developing effective treatments. In addition to their role in relatively uncommon but important genetic illnesses, mitochondrial dysfunction probably has a role in many of the commoner neura-degenerative diseases and may well contribute to human aging. Research in Australia and around the World continues on these important questions.”
“The Mito Foundation plays an important role in raising awareness and understanding of mitochondrial diseases in our part of the World. It also plays a role in providing information to people effected by mitochondrial disorders and their families. The Foundation supports research into mitochondrial disease, and Australian researchers lead the World in many aspects of this important area. I am delighted and honoured to be a Patron of the Mito Foundation. It is a privilege to be associated with the outstanding work done by the Foundation.”
Professor Ed Byrne AO