Two secret millionaires have left behind the largest bequest in the Australian National University's history — and researchers say it could lead to real breakthroughs in the study of a rare disease.
Bruce and Jenny Pryor lived a modest life together, amassing a quiet fortune that came as a shock to friends and family after their deaths in 2017.
In the months before they died Mr and Ms Pryor approached the ANU, expressing their wish to donate $10 million towards research of the autoimmune disease dermatomyositis (DM), which Ms Pryor suffered from in the later years of her life.
After both she and Mr Pryor died, their niece and nephew worked with the university to ensure the bequest came to fruition.
"They were both extremely humble and generous people," nephew James Graham said.
Many of the couple's friends and family had no idea they had saved so much money.
"They worked hard their whole lives, living modestly, to generate an amazing legacy of which the bequest to ANU is a significant part," Mr Graham said.
The news was welcomed by 29-year-old Jo Morris who was diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), when she was six years old.
JDM causes chronic muscle inflammation, pain and weakness and has taken away Ms Morris's ability to walk.
"What you get is what you see — I can't move, I'm very stiff and I still get a lot of pain and that will probably never go away," she said.
"I just have to learn to deal with it."
Ms Morris said she hoped the funding boost would help in finding better treatment options for sufferers.
"I didn't respond to any of the treatment, so hopefully they can find different treatments so other people don't end up as disabled as I am," she said.
Eight per cent of Australians suffer from rare diseases
University co-director of the centre for personalised immunology Professor Carola Vinuesa said she was shocked to hear about the generous donation.
But she said she was confident the funding would spur her team on to produce tangible outcomes.
"As scientists we always feel that we have a duty and an obligation to do our best to make a difference to our patients," she said.
"I think with this particular donation we know that we are committed — I have do doubt that all of us and all of these young people in our team will work very hard to understand the disease and find better treatments."
Professor Vinuesa said rare diseases like DM and JDM had seen limited research due to funding constraints.
"Up to eight per cent of people are suffering from rare diseases [in Australia], so we have to try and make an effort to understand the causes and look after these patients," she said.
Mr Graham said he was proud of the legacy of his aunt and uncle would leave behind.
"They wanted to help empower researchers to find a cure for diseases like DM," he said.
"Their incredible generosity and commitment means this hope is now possible."
