Victor Hurley Medical Research Fund

Helping the brightest clinical researchers find advancements in clinical care

Over the last 60 years the Victor Hurley Medical Research Fund has helped more than 250 of the brightest clinical researchers find advancements in clinical care across many areas and disciplines.

Victor Hurley himself was “a great scholar, teacher and surgeon whose outstanding work over a period of 48 years enhanced the reputation of the Hospital.”

When he passed away The Royal Melbourne Hospital Committee of Management established the fund in his honour. We are committed to building the Fund to ensure his legacy continues and our annual fellowship program attracts and assists the very best people.

 

 

Facts about Victor Hurley and the Research Fund

1. Who was Victor Hurley?

Air Vice Marshal Sir Victor Hurley (1888 – 1958) became a resident at the hospital in 1910. He qualified as a surgeon and was appointed Medical Superintendent in 1912.

He became an outpatient surgeon to the hospital and also a police surgeon.

In 1927, as an inpatient surgeon, he was regarded as a first class practitioner with a calm and purposeful approach. He was Dean of the Clinical School (1929-36) and Stewart Lecturer in Surgery (1936-46). In World War II, he served with the RAAF, playing a pioneering role in the medical service and rising to the rank of Air Vice Marshal.

He became an influential member of The Royal Melbourne Hospital Committee of Management in 1929 and its President in 1947.

2. What is the Victor Hurley Medical Research fund?

The Victor Hurley Medical Research Fund was established in 1958 as a memorial to Sir Victor Hurley. It developed strongly with support from medical staff and has now supported more than 250 researchers.

The Victor Hurley Fund provides a partial subsidy to support researchers in the early phases of their research careers.

In 2004 the Fund launched the inaugural Sir Benjamin Rank Surgical Research Fellowship. Two fellowships have been awarded, worth $10,000 each. Sir Benjamin Rank Surgical Research Fellowships enable young Royal Melbourne Hospital surgeons to undertake medical research and further their skills in a supportive, dynamic environment.

3. Who are recent recipients I may know?

The following two researchers have received generous grants from the Victor Hurley Medical Research Fund:

Dr. Bruce Campbell: Neurology Registrar

Research topic: Evolution of the penumbra in acute ischaemic stroke - identifying novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers of treatment response.

Dr. Leon Worth: VIDS Research Fellow

Research topic: A triple-blinded randomised trial of ethanol vs heparin locks in prevention of hickman catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBI) in haematology/BMT patients.

4. Why should I support the Victor Hurley Medical Research Fund?

You know about the importance of critical medical research. No less than 250 Royal Melbourne Hospital researchers have been given a kick-start by the Victor Hurley Medical Research Fund. That’s a huge number of researchers.
Now we need your help to enable the Victor Hurley Fund to continue supporting researchers within the Hospital. Please be as generous as possible.