Fuelling future research

One shared passion between the Festival of Motorcycling SA (FOMsa) and SAHMRI is an appreciation of quality equipment and unique machines.

“We want to improve the image of motor-cycling in South Australia,” said Rob Elliott, President of FOMsa.

“Motorcycling gets bad press too often and we want to overcome that. We’re aiming to increase the visibility and awareness of motorcycling in a more positive manner and encourage good riding practice for motorcyclists.”

Since 2021, FOMsa has supported SAHMRI as their charity partner, initially supporting bursaries for PhD students and now raising funds towards research equipment.

The first FOMsa bursary recipient Khalia Primer, a PhD candidate researching the vascular complications of diabetes, greatly appreciated the support of FOMsa while studying at SAHMRI.

“Having access to cutting-edge technology means I can design the best possible experiments to help develop new therapies for diabetic complications," she said.

In 2024 FOMsa’s community fundraising efforts purchased a microplate reader for SAHMRI, used to measure chemical and biological reactions in small samples placed in a microplate.

It is a piece of equipment that will be used by hundreds of PhD students at SAHMRI across its lifetime.

“We love our wheels and riding, and we want to give back to the community through our fundraising events,” said Rob.

“We hope that with the ongoing support from fellow motorcyclists and the community, FOMsa can continue to be a positive force for motorcycling in South Australia and do some good for medical research.”

If you'd like to learn more about how your community can support SAHMRI please contact michelle.ward@sahmri.com.