Talking 'bout re-generation

Report: Neha Kale
Photography: Greg Ford

High-flying Melbourne hoteliers are not conventionally known for wearing their hearts on their sleeve. Then again, conventional is the last word you would use to describe Les Erdi OAM and his wife Eva.

The philanthropists built their thriving Erdigroup business on values of honest communication and these same values led them to Professor Peter Currie and the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute.

"I met Peter Currie and I spoke to him for about three minutes and I really fell in love with him," Mr Erdi (pictured right) said.

Based at Monash University's Clayton campus Professor Currie is deputy director of the institute and an expert in the field of zebrafish genetics, an exciting strand of regenerative medicine that could spark treatments for conditions such as Parkinson's, dementia and muscular dystrophy.

His research focuses on the zebrafish embryo, whose unique transparency allows easy observation of cell changes and a sharper understanding of the link between genetics and human disease.

But it takes a believer to help harness this life-changing potential.

"I asked Peter 'do you know how long this will take?' and he said 'we don't know but all we can do is try.' That was an honest answer.

That was when I thought 'this is a man who I'm ready to put my money on' because he has something that's unbelievable if it succeeds."

The significant support of the Erdis led to the formation of the Eva and Les Erdi Zebrafish Research Group, a talented team of researchers working within the institute's state-of-the-art zebrafish facility under Professor Currie.

The Erdi's contribution will allow Monash to recruit an exceptional young scientist to lead the group and unearth ways for the human body to repair and regenerate damaged tissues and organs.

"The long-term research goal is to learn from our findings so that we can benefit patients inflicted with muscle-wasting diseases or who have lost or damaged muscle through injury," Professor Currie said.

Regenerative medicine is characterised by boldness, innovation and faith, values that resonate with Mr Erdi and underpin his remarkable career.

After all, this is the man who spearheaded one of Melbourne's original high-rise buildings at 131 Lonsdale Street following a fateful meeting with a sceptical Lord Mayor and a yellow piece of paper.

Eva and Les Erdi now own and operate a wide portfolio of hotels,including the celebrated Grand Hotel Melbourne and the Urban boutique chain in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Philanthropy,however, remains an enduring passion.

"I think the highest enjoyment in the world is when you've done something to help someone and they don't have to tell you 'thank you,'" Mr Erdi said.

In 2008 Mr Erdi received a Medal of the Order of Australia for his wide-reaching services to the community.

The Erdis have a long and abundant history as Monash donors,generously supporting important medical and health science research as well as initiatives that foster cultural understanding.

These passions are amalgamated in their latest gift to Monash, the Eva and Les Erdi AUSiMED Fellowship in Neurological Diseases.

The prestigious fellowship will provide funding for a promising scientist to work with Professor Claude Bernard from Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories and Professor Tamir Ben Hur of the Hadassah University Medical Centre in Jerusalem. The team will conduct collaborative research into multiple sclerosis and severe neurological conditions such as strokes, brain trauma, Alzheimer's and spinal cord injury.

The fellowship builds on Monash University's alliance with AUSiMED, a Hassadah Australia medical research initiative inviting partnerships between researchers and clinicians in Australia and Israel.

For Mr Erdi science is the best conduit for building this relationship.

"Scientists are scientists! Scientists all speak the same language wherever they may be," he said.

He is deeply passionate about the strengths of both countries having immigrated to Australia via Israel with Eva in 1954. Mr Erdi hopes that pooling these strengths will uncover solutions to critical medical problems and "bring in fruit that is sweet for everybody".

"Australia and Israel understand each other, believe me. I think they appreciate each other," he said.

The theme of cultural appreciation strongly resonates with Mr Erdi and forms the basis of his Sandridge Bridge project at Southbank. Mr Erdi cites the daring restoration, which memorialises the city's immigrant and Indigenous populations as one of his proudest achievements — after marrying his wife Eva.

Mr Erdi is drawn to Monash University's "open-minded leadership",an attribute he clearly shares.

"Institutions are supposed to be admired by the ones who run it and what they achieve — not what they achieved in the past. And that is why I want to work with them more and more."

Monash University honoured this partnership at a reception in October 2009. Recognising the power of the Erdi's generosity Vice-President (Advancement) Ron Fairchild stated: "Healthcare and disease prevention are global challenges, but these areas are where Monash is well placed to have a substantial impact. Your philanthropy will undoubtedly extend and consolidate our ability to improve human health."