Participants in the annual Newcastle Glow Walk couldn’t have asked for better conditions at the weekend.
And, it was hard not to notice them either.
With most donning their brightest fluorescent outfits, which also included a few Star Wars costumes, there were smiles aplenty as they sauntered two kilometres along the iconic breakwall on Saturday 21 September.
But, despite all the fun and family-friendly activities, there was a serious side to the event, too.
More than 100 people, some who travelled from as far away as Sydney to attend, raised funds and awareness for the Hunter Transplant Research Foundation (HTRF).
All up, they amassed $4,000 while shining a light on the organisation’s valuable work.
Each year, about 800 Australians undergo a kidney transplant, offering a new lease on life.
However, the risk of infection remains a significant challenge due to the lifelong immunosuppressant medications needed to prevent organ rejection.
It’s something Katie Baines is keen to change.
The work of the HTRF Fellow, who’s a member of the Hunter Medical Research Institute’s (HMRI) Immune Health Research Program team, focuses on predicting individual risk of infection and improving the balance between preventing organ rejection and avoiding life-threatening infections, such as those caused by the BK virus, a kidney disease that occurs primarily in transplant recipients.
“We’re working on biomarkers to better predict infection risk and improve diagnostic tools,” the University of Newcastle Associate Professor explained.
“The lifelong immunosuppressants needed to prevent organ rejection have serious side effects, including infections and cancer.
“A particular focus is BK virus, which can cause severe damage to the transplanted kidney if not properly managed.
“We recently identified gene activity patterns that could lead to new treatment approaches for BK virus-associated nephropathy. “This research is incredibly promising… and the support of HTRF is vital in continuing our work.”
For more community stories:
- Hunter youth urged to speak up with new survey
- Hamilton South playground receives much-needed facelift
- $7.2 million football hub kicks off in Singleton Heights
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