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Research Grants
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The Australia Rotary Heath Research Fund (ARHRF) has been established by the Rotarians of Australia with the aim to provide financial support to research projects within Australia which will enhance the Health of the Community.
ARHRF in partnership with THEBIPOLAREXPEDITION looks to fund projects specific to Bipolar Disorder, which can be carefully evaluated in advance and subject to ongoing monitoring as grants are expended. Grants will be given in accordance to the ARHRF requirements.
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Grants may be given to research specific to Bipolar Disorder, particularly focusing on causes and more effective diagnosis.
Applications will open in approximately March 2010.
Grants will be announced in late 2010 and will commence in 2011.
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For more information on the ARHRF go to:www.arhrf.org.au
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Why Support Bipolar Disorder Research?
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Imagine a world without Winston Churchill, Beethoven or Van Gogh. These incredible people are just some of the many that have lived with Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness characterised by extreme mood changes between mania and depression, and has a suicide rate higher than any other disease or mental illness. Bipolar Disorder is the sixth leading cause of medical disability worldwide, and is associated with a greater degree of disability than a number of prominent chronic medical conditions, including osteoarthritis, HIV infection, diabetes, and asthma.
Despite it’s seriousness and prominence, a staggering 70% of patients are misdiagnosed and one third of patients wait ten years or more before a correct diagnosis is made. This is an appalling waste of human life and a major public health burden. In fact, in the US alone, Bipolar Disorder is estimated to have an annual societal cost in the range of $10billion-$45billion. Of this, about half is incurred by indirect costs such as the effects on work productivity as well as social welfare costs and criminal justice costs, which is exacerbated by the 10 year gap in correct diagnosis.
Greater research needs to be invested to provide a better understanding of the disorder, to increase correct diagnoses so that people with Bipolar Disorder can manage their lives and achieve great things.
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