River's Gift - Stamp Out SIDS
For the family of a SIDS victim, the unexplained nature of the death is beyond heartbreaking. The unanswered questions exacerbate and prolong the grief.
River’s Gift was established in November 2011 by two devastated, yet focused and determined parents who were searching for answers surrounding the death of their 4 month old son, River Jak Adam in Australia.
It has now evolved into a global movement, with thousands of supporters across the world and the formation of a dedicated research partnership with Harvard Medical School/Boston Children's Hospital that is committed to finding a cure.
River’s Gift has raised just over half a million dollars and pledges to raise a minimum of $250,000 per year going forward for SIDS research and awareness.
River’s Gift International SIDS Collaboration
With the help of our sponsors, our primary goal is to raise a minimum of $250,000 per year and in April 2014 we launched River’s International SIDS collaboration between Harvard University – Boston, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health – Melbourne (FINMH) and The University of Adelaide.
Sculpting an Australian footprint on the world map of SIDS Research, the collaboration currently funds Australian PhD student Emma Giles to work under the direction of world renowned SIDS Researcher Dr Hannah Kinney at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA. Between mid 2014 and late 2015, River's Gift funded Australian PhD student, Fiona Bright, to work in Boston under the guidance of Dr Hannah Kinney. Upon her return to Adelaide, she was funded by River's Gift to complete her thesis and PhD qualification, under the supervision of Professor Roger Byard.
Benefits of the River’s Gift International SIDS Collaboration
River’s Gift International SIDS Collaboration drives the establishment of an international partnership between Children’s Hospital Boston, FINMH and Adelaide University, focused purely on consolidating the understanding of the underlying physiological and genetic mechanisms resulting in a SIDS death.
Headed by Dr Hannah Kinney and Dr Jhodie Duncan and supported by Prof. Roger Byard, the international partnership has seen the formation of a global and collective initiative; the first of its kind between the 2 States in Australia and the United States.
Overall Goal
The ultimate aim of River’s Gift is to support research that may one day see the eradication of SIDS.
Through funding the training of research fellows in the field of SIDS research, River's Gift have re-established Australia’s profile in the world of SIDS research and provide a local point of contact for expert knowledge and information.
Furthermore, partnerships with other international SIDS organisations will promote the fusion and integration of expert knowledge, new learnings, research development and the enhancement of awareness across the globe.
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