For more than 60 years, the Raine Medical Research Foundation has been supporting medical researchers to answer questions that save and improve lives. The Raine Foundation was established by a generous bequest from Mary Raine, an astute businesswoman who owned a large portfolio of properties and hotels in WA, including the Wentworth and Windsor Hotels. Mary was devastated when her husband, Joe, died prematurely from a sudden and severe stroke at the age of 67. She couldn’t understand why doctors couldn’t save him and wanted to do more to help others avoid the terrible loss of their loved ones to diseases such as arteriosclerosis. In August 1957, Mary Raine signed the Deed of Trust bequeathing her property empire to the University of Western Australia for the purpose of funding medical research. The Raine Medical Research Foundation represents the largest bequest received by the University for medical research.

Through the generosity and vision of this remarkable woman, the Raine Medical Research Foundation has been able to support cutting-edge research that has investigated some of the most challenging diseases and disorders facing the world today – including cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, renal failure and cardiovascular disease. The Foundation has allocated close to $50mill towards medical research to-date in support of two Centres of Excellence, major research grants, fellowships, scholarships, collaboration awards, publication prizes, and the visits of international scholars. Our funding programs have been further enhanced through many productive partnerships and joint ventures, and generous bequests and donations from the community.

The Raine Foundation has a strong reputation for ensuring thorough and equitable grant review processes and prides itself on supporting medical research excellence. Importantly, our funding strategy recognises the need to support the next generation of WA medical research leaders. The achievements of our previous awardees are a testament to the rigour of our grant review processes and reinforce the critical need for early-career support.