DONATECardiac Research
Research
NICHS funds and promotes research carried out in Northern Ireland into cardiac illnesses. Cardiology research is a priority area for NICHS funding in 2009.
Some examples NICHS has funded:
A study of aspirin resistance in patients with cardiovascular disease
NICHS funded research by local cardiologists at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast into the frequency of aspirin resistance among patients with heart disease. In 1994, a large scale trial showed that patients treated with the blood-thinning medication, aspirin, had a lower death rate, less heart attacks and less strokes than patients who did not receive aspirin. However, some patients continue to have heart attacks and strokes despite taking aspirin. NICHS' research looked at the possible causes of this aspirin resistance and the tests used to determine it.
Study into abnormal signalling in heart cells
Patients with heart failure suffer abnormal signalling in their heart and blood vessel cells. Researchers at Queen's University Belfast were funded by NICHS to study why and how abnormal messages in the cells arise and thus ensure therapy is directed at stopping or reversing the decline in the function of cells.
A school based physical activity programme
It is well-known that there is a direct link between obesity and cardiovascular health. NICHS funded research by the University of Ulster's Centre for Food and Health to evaluate the usefulness of a school intervention programme to reduce levels of obesity among primary school children in deprived areas. The programme included encouraging a healthy diet and more physical exercise.
