Southern Cross University has received a $10 million gift from the Blackmore Family Foundation to further research and education in naturopathic medicine.
This is the second major contribution from the Blackmore Family Foundation, led by Marcus Blackmore AM and his wife Caroline Furlong.
The first donation of $10 million in 2018 helped establish the University’s National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM).
Southern Cross University Vice-Chancellor Professor Tyrone Carlin said it was an incredibly generous gift.
“It is significant not just because of this generosity but because of the transformative vision that it aspires to,” Carlin said.
“The University very much shares this vision and we are excited about the work to be done in future and the enormous societal benefits that will be catalysed because of the Foundation’s investment.”
Since its launch in 2020, the NCNM has developed six accredited degrees, educated 280 undergraduate and postgraduate students, and mentored 18 higher degree research students.
It has also established one of the largest clinical trial units in regional Australia, conducting significant trials on natural medicines and integrative healthcare, including a world-first study on medicinal cannabis for brain cancer.
The gift from the Blackmore Family Foundation aligns with the wishes of Marcus Blackmore’s father, the late Maurice Blackmore, who founded the Blackmores vitamin company.