Project to seek cure
for cystic fibrosis
By Alison O'Connor, Health Correspondent
The successful cloning of Dolly the sheep may now play a part in an Irish research project aimed at finding solutions to the management and cure of cystic fibrosis. It is part of a three-year research funding programme announced by the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland (CFAI) yesterday.
The money for five research projects has been generated through voluntary fund-raising by members of the association. At a reception in Dublin last night a cheque for £50,000 was presented to the CFAI. The money had been raised by a group who sailed around Ireland.
The projects are to be carried out at various universities and include a cross-Border joint initiative between hospitals in Belfast and Limerick. This research between the Belfast City Hospital and the Limerick Regional Hospital will involve further investigation of the DNA amplification procedures that resulted in Dolly being born.
At last night's reception the chairman of the association, Mr Pat Dempsey, welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, that a heartlung transplant unit is to be established in the next two years at the Mater Hospital. |
