Philanthropy powers global impact in bone health research

Thanks to generous philanthropic support, bone health research at SVI is making exciting strides.

Dr Haniyeh Hemmatian recently returned from a two-month research visit across Europe, supported by the Christine and T. Jack Martin Travel Grant. This opportunity allowed her to share knowledge, strengthen collaborations and bring cutting-edge bone imaging techniques back to Australia.

Haniyeh spent time at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Germany, working with world-renowned bone researcher Dr Richard Weinkamer and presenting her research to his team. She then travelled to Vienna to collaborate with Dr Markus Hartmann at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology, where she refined her skills in advanced imaging techniques. She capped off her trip by presenting at the European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS) Congress in Innsbruck.

Haniyeh presented findings in her talk ‘Bone beyond mass: rethinking age-related fragility through composition and cellular networks’ to senior experts in the field. Her research challenges traditional views on osteoporosis by shifting the focus from how much bone is made to how well new bone is built and structured from the start, offering a fresh perspective on skeletal ageing.

Haniyeh’s international research trip follows her recent recognition as a Rising Star Fellowship recipient. The support includes a three-year fellowship generously funded by Helen and Michael Gannon, providing $125,000 annually to support her salary. This funding will allow Haniyeh to deepen her research into the bone microstructure and advance our understanding of how bones change over time.

Haniyeh’s achievements highlight the power of philanthropy to unlock opportunities that go beyond the lab. With continued support, researchers like Haniyeh can pursue bold ideas, build global networks and work towards improving bone health for generations to come.

“I’m grateful for the support that made this research journey possible,” said Haniyeh.

“Research is rarely a solo journey, it builds on shared ideas, partnerships, and support. Philanthropy is what connects all of that, turning visions into lasting impact and empowering young researchers to think bigger and reach further.”