Research Opportunities

The Butterfly Foundation continues to support research into eating disorders and will regularly update this page with information about studies which have been ethically approved by host universities.

• Coping with Anorexia Nervosa: a sibling's perspective: Researchers at the University of Sydney are currently investigating the impact of anorexia nervosa on sisters and brothers of people with the illness.
  AN- a sibling's perspective
• ANOREXIA NERVOSA: Free Outpatient Treatment: The University of Sydney is conducting a treatment program for females over the age of 18 who have had anorexia nervosa for more than seven years
  l-an_flyer_2008 (PDF)
• Male Anorexia Nervosa Study: The University of Sydney is currently conducting an international study of male anorexia nervosa. The project aims to develop and further our knowledge of male body image disorders and seeks males between the ages of 16-50 who have a current diagnosis of anorexia nervosa to complete a few simple questionnaires.
  Please contact Stuart Murray on 0420 838 734 or at stuartm@pysch.usyd.edu.au for further information

PhD Top-up scholarships

As part of the initial stages of our commitment to research, we are pleased to have presented the following PhD students with top-up scholarships. We wish them all the best with their studies.

• Phillipa Diedrichs: University of Queensland, 'An ecologocial approach to promoting positive body image: Average-size models in the media'.
• Ertimiss Eshkevari: Australian National University, 'Neuropsychology of Anorexia Nervosa: Somatosensory perception and executive functioning'.
• Laura M Hart: Melbourne University, 'Mental Health First Aid for Eating Disorders: Development of first aid guidelines and an intervention for the public'.
• Amy Lampard: University of Western Australia, 'The maintenance of pathological weight and shape control behavior in males and females'.
• Stephanie Romagnano: RMIT, 'Study of cognitive schemas in individuals where there is no eating disorder'.
• Carla Welsh: Flinders University, 'Investigating the effectiveness of combined obesity and disordered eating prevention program in primary school children'.

The Butterfly National Institute Without Walls For Research Into Eating Disorders And Body Image

Eating disorders and negative body image are major concerns within our community. Services are seriously inadequate with provision in the public sector particularly poor. There is no clear pathway to prevention, treatment or support. Eating disorders are recoverable, however due to the paucity of research and investments in clinical services, the circumstances that ensure recovery are poorly understood. There is no well-defined cure or successful preventative treatment although there are a number of treatments early in development that urgently require research to confirm their efficacy. In our view, the reason for the lack of clinical services is the lack of research giving evidence-based treatment and prevention options. A vital key to finding the answers for those suffering from negative body image and eating disorders is in the funding of a research initiative that is directly linked to these services.

The Butterfly Foundation has raised this need with philanthropy and the Federal Government. The Myer Foundation funded us to do a scope study into clinical and research needs for eating disorders and through The Myer Foundation and the Sidney Myer Trust 2009 Commemorative Grants Program a further $1.3 million has been received to leverage to our current raised total of $5.3 million. Our aim is to raise $20 million to form a philanthropic/Government partnership to develop the Butterfly National Research Institute without Walls, ie. we are not raising funds for a building but for a collaboration of researchers and research.

Butterfly's Research Institute will bring together all of the leading researchers in the field in Australia over a period of five years from 2009.

Major areas of interest include: -

• PhD top up scholarships to draw new people into research and clinical practice on eating disorders and to grow the human capital that is committed to studying and improving outcomes in this field.
• Establishment of a patient data base for research.
• Provision of grants for collaborative research projects bringing together groups of researchers from fields such as sociology, psychology, bench science, epidemiology, genetics, epigenetics, obesity and MRI imaging with those researchers and clinicians working with eating disorders and body image research.
• Establishment of a new pilot centre for eating disorders in NSW that incorporates 'best practice' clinical treatment with research.

A forum bringing together researchers from all over Australia to discuss the Institute and its aim of working collaboratively was held on November 18th 2008 in Sydney. The day provided an insight into current research initiatives in the eating disorders and body image field in Australia and opportunities for researchers and clinicians to work together to move The Butterfly Foundation National Research Institute Without Walls forward.

We express our gratitude to all of the researchers and clinicians who have committed to seeing this large initiative become a reality. In particular we thank The Myer Foundation for their generous support. We are delighted to be partnering with them as they are with us -

"This 2009 Commemorative Grant represents a partnership with The Butterfly Foundation with whom we feel privileged to be associated. The Butterfly Foundation's research initiative has been chosen because it will have an enduring and positive impact on Australian communities. It celebrates the significant milestones of the Sidney Myer Fund and The Myer Foundation. We hope that the legacy of The Butterfly Foundation will extend for generations to come."

Please return to this page of our website regularly for further updates on the research initiative.