Research Lifeboat - Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research

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About Perkins

Since 1998, the Perkins has grown to become one of the nation's leading adult medical research centres, where a close-knit team of more than 450 research and clinical staff work together to defeat the major diseases that impact our community.
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Research

Perkins researchers focus on some of the major diseases that affect our community. In particular we focus on cancer, diabetes, heart disease and neuromuscular diseases.
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Your support will help us to deliver a healthier future through medical breakthroughs, new treatments and fostering the next generation of scientific talent.
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You can support Perkins work in many different ways. From participating in an event, to attending a workshop in the BioDiscovery Centre, to volunteering your time, or supporting our research, we welcome your involvement.
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Home » Support the Perkins » Corporate Giving » Research Lifeboat

Home > Support the Perkins > Corporate Giving > Research Lifeboat

Lifeboat Opportunity Grants

Keep the brightest minds afloat for medical breakthroughs

A researcher’s brilliant mind is their most powerful tool in fighting cancer, heart disease, diabetes and genetic conditions. The dozens of PhD and Masters students whose passion, drive and fresh ideas are the key to the next life-changing breakthrough, are our greatest asset.

Through the Perkins Partners program, your support of the Lifeboat Opportunity Grant can keep a talented student afloat, help them continue their research and sustain their careers to make the next life-saving disease discovery.

Why your support is needed

Imagine a future where diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes and genetic diseases don’t rob us of our loved ones. Where the people you care about are protected thanks to medical breakthroughs powered by research.

Now imagine being a student, trying to balance a full-time job in medical research with ongoing study commitments and the need to find a way to pay for it all.

The Lifeboat program offers a safety net for students to ensure their research can continue.

PhD Candidate Jevin Parmar shares how Lifeboat will help him achieve his research ambitions in this video.

How does Lifeboat work?

As a Perkins Partner, your annual tax-deductible donation over three years will provide a vital lifeline for one deserving student so they can concentrate on completing their degree while gaining valuable work experience at the Perkins.

As a Perkins Partner, you’ll receive updates about your Lifeboat student on their progress. We’ll let you know when they complete their studies—thanks to you.

Our goal is to support all 45 of our talented student researchers—your donation could keep them afloat to continue their studies.

Who will you support?

You’ll be supporting student researchers who are completing their Masters or PhD programs. Students selected for Lifeboat support typically meet at least one of these diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) criteria:

First-in-family to attend university
Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Living with a recognised disability
Represent a gender that is under-represented in research (e.g. women in STEM)
Person with caring responsibilities (parent of young children, or a recognised carer)
International student
Culturally or linguistically diverse background
Able to demonstrate financial disadvantage that impacts their education goals.

PhD and Masters students typically work full-time in the labs to fulfil their research requirements, limiting their ability to earn a living outside of their studies.

By supporting these young researchers at the start of their careers—especially those without ready access to resources but who are overflowing with scientific talent—you can make a significant difference.