Skip Navigation
DONATENews
NORTHERN IRELAND CHEST HEART AND STROKE OFFERS £500,000 FOR LIFE-SAVING RESEARCH
Monday 10 August 2009
A leading medical charity has boosted its funding for research to half a million pounds - an increase of £150,000 over last year.
Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke (NICHS) says its scientific research grants will be available to researchers working in Northern Ireland on studies that will primarily benefit local people.
Half the money - £250,000 - is earmarked for work that will improve the treatment of respiratory illnesses. The other half will be channelled towards research into cardiac illness and stroke. The successful projects will begin in or after August 2010.
The charity's Head of Research, Anne Madden, said: "More than half of all deaths in Northern Ireland are caused by chest, heart and stroke illnesses. While our primary aim is to save lives, we are also interested in research that will improve the quality of life of people who are affected by these illnesses."
A research project by Queen's University Belfast, previously funded by Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke identified the genes which put individuals at risk of sudden cardiac death at a young age, due to high family blood cholesterol.
In the Belfast HealthTrust a nurse has been appointed to visit such family members to persuade them to have a screening test. This will ascertain whether the individual is at risk of a major cardiac event and possible sudden death. If this is the case, successful preventive medicine can be given. NICHS would like to see such a nurse service in all Trusts in Northern Ireland.
Professor Paul Nicholls of the Royal Victoria Hospital said: "We are delighted that Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke has increased its funding allowing us to improve our research into cardiovascular care. Research to identify the gene causing higher blood cholesterol in certain families has resulted in many families being offered specialist nursing support, which should be made available in all health trusts as outlined in the Department of Health's 'Service Framework on Cardiovascular Health and Wellbeing'. Such projects and advances could not be made without the support of Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke."
All projects are subject to intense scrutiny by external experts. No project is ever funded unless it meets the high quality threshold set by the NICHS's Scientific Research Grants Committee. NICHS is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities, which acts as a quality mark for all the work it supports.
The closing date for the receipt of initial applications is noon on 4th September 2009. Late applications will not be considered.
Research being funded in the current year includes investigations into:
- Abnormal cell growth in the lungs of asthmatic children. (Queen's University Belfast)
- An exercise programme to improve recovery from heart attack. (University of Ulster)
- How fuel poverty in winter can make people more susceptible to heart attack, stroke, and breathing problems. (University of Ulster)
Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS) is the leading local charity concerned with the prevention and alleviation of chest disease, heart disease and stroke illness. These diseases account for around 54% of deaths in Northern Ireland.
More information and application forms can be found at www.nichsa.com/research.
