Media Release
May 10 2006
Bequest boosts research into alternative treatments at UniSA
The generous bequest of a pre-school teacher, who in her lifetime struggled with arthritis and breast cancer, will be acknowledged at UniSA tomorrow when the Kathleen Bodnar Laboratory is officially opened at UniSA in her honour.
Bodnar lost her battle with breast cancer in 2004 at the age of 51 but had long been interested in the use of alternative therapies to manage her debilitating arthritis. She had a keen interest in research being undertaken into these treatments including the nutritional factors that influence health and recovery.
The new Kathleen Bodnar laboratory will play an invaluable role in UniSA’s Nutritional Physiology Research Centre. It will be officially launched at 5pm tomorrow (Thursday May 11 2006) on the Ground Floor of the Bonython Jubilee Building, City East campus, Frome Road.
Bodnar’s bequest to the Centre has provided a dedicated research ultrasound machine to improve diagnostic capabilities.
Head of the Centre, Professor Peter Howe, says the bequest will ensure more thorough research can be carried out into the impact of a range of diet and lifestyle interventions including the importance of omega3 fish oils and products such as cocoa and soy in the human diet.
“Right through all traditions of medicine there is a fundamental understanding of the importance of foods in influencing health,” Prof Howe said. “The Centre is working to identify, quantify and verify how diet and lifestyle factors can improve cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental health.
“The ultrasound will allow us to examine the changes in the lining of blood vessels and to observe changes in biomarkers that impact on heart health. It will complement our metabolic, cardiovascular and exercise testing facilities, making the Centre a fully integrated research unit dedicated to understanding the role of treatments and lifestyle changes, alternative to drug therapies, in improving human health. This is a wonderful gift because it will continue to contribute to human health well into the future.”
Kathleen Bodnar graduated from UniSA with a Graduate Diploma in Parent Education and Counselling in 1981. Dedicated to teaching and supporting opportunities for all children Bodnar was active in SAIT influencing the development of an affirmative action policy for women and girls. She later worked for the World Workshop Resource Centre and ABSCHOL a program to provide scholarships for Indigenous students.
A world traveller, Bodnar was a strong advocate for peace and for empowerment through education and also spent some time working for Community Aid Abroad as a volunteer coordinator for CAA Trading. She taught at Bute Kindergarten until her poor health made it impossible to continue.
Media contact
- Vincent Ciccarello office (08) 8302 0578 mobile 0434 603 457 email vincent.ciccarello@unisa.edu.au