Lungs for the Future: Linda Harker on her husband Steve’s lung transplant story
A FUNDRAISING PROGRAM FOR ADVANCING LUNG TRANSPLANT RESEARCH
After developing a rare but serious lung disease, Steve Harker, the chair of Future Now Capital’s Executive Committee and Investment Committee, was the beneficiary of a lung transplant at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney in May 2022, where he experienced life-saving treatments that were developed from ground-breaking clinical research at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney.
To support high-impact lung research at St Vincent’s Hospital, the Harker Family and Future Now Capital will be holding Lungs for the Future, an event to raise awareness and sustainable funding for lung research.
Supporting Lung Transplant Research at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney
With your contribution, we can pave the way for ground-breaking discoveries and transformative advancements in lung health for all.
Lung transplantation has transformed the lives of countless individuals suffering from advanced lung diseases. However, despite significant advances there are many unsolved problems with lung transplantation, including infection, rejection and the long-term use of anti-rejection drugs increasing the risk of other problems, including osteoporosis and kidney damage.
Whilst closely related, through the pulmonary system, to heart problems, the lungs have long been the “poor cousin” in terms of research funding. Research in lung transplantation is especially important and needed to increase the success and survival rates of patients.
The St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney Lung Transplant Unit is well-positioned as part of an integrated clinical research precinct to expand and strengthen our leadership in research.
Investing in lung transplant research is a pivotal step toward addressing the challenges posed by lung diseases. Your gift, one-off or ongoing, to support innovative lung research will help create a healthier future for St Vincent’s patients, nationally and globally.
St Vincent’s can’t do this alone. We invite you to make a gift to the endowed Lungs for the Future program, established by the Harker Family in partnership with Future Now Capital, to support lung research at St Vincent’s in perpetuity. You may also choose to immediately support lung research at St Vincent’s by gifting directly to St Vincent’s Curran Foundation (www.supportstvincents.com.au).
Generous contributions reached as of May2025 $ 1,726,543* Includes furthercommitments in 2025.
Resources
Steve Harker, AM
Chairman, Deal and Governance Specialist, Future Now Capital
Steve Harker, currently serving as Future Now Capital’s Chairman, Deal and Governance Specialist, was formerly a non-executive Director of Westpac Banking Corporation, the previous Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Stanley Australia, and a former Guardian of the Future Fund of Australia.
After a rare and serious lung disease, Steve became a lung transplant patient at St Vincent’s Hospital, where he experienced the exceptional care and expertise of the world-renowned St Vincent’s Lung Transplant Unit in Sydney.
Dr Pamela Karas
Harker Family Lungs for the Future Research Fellow
We are proud to announce Dr Pamela Karas as the inaugural Harker Family Lungs for the Future Research Fellow. Her groundbreaking research will focus on mapping gene functions
within lung tissue to better detect and treat scarring conditions; identifying biomarkers for target treatments in lung diseases affecting transplant and non-transplant patients; and developing treatments that enhance transplant success.
This vital research is made possible by the generosity of our community- thank you for supporting a future where lung disease can be better understood and treated.