The Irish Heart Foundation's scientific committee is to award funding to at least eight research projects aimed at reducing premature death and morbidity from heart disease. Applications for the annual research grants, worth up to €500,000 each, are currently being accepted by the committee.
The foundation favours community-based or clinical research which looks at improving the knowledge, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, and hypertension and peripheral vascular disease. It is estimated that about 10,000 people die from diseases of the circulatory or vascular systems in Ireland each year.
"The successful projects will be relevant, meritorious, scientifically accessible and be of direct relevance to our aims," said Dr Brian Maurer, medical director of the Irish Heart Foundation. "Applications are usually wide-ranging and can come from scientists, epidemiologists or clinical researchers. Over the years, these research projects have been of great use to the heart foundation. One of our major goals is to promote research into the area and facilitate original ideas. As a result, about 10 per cent of our funds are allocated to research every year," said Dr Maurer.
An average of 30 applications for the research grants are made each year. This year, the Irish Heart Foundation will award €517,803 - the largest amount made available to date. While some projects will be entirely funded by the foundation, a number will also be co-funded by the Health Research Board. The eight research projects awarded funding in 2006 included a trial of family mediated exercise intervention following stroke and a study into the long-term adherence of cardiovascular therapy in the Irish population.
This year, a new grant, open to businesses and non-medical personnel, has also been made available. The Noel Hickey Bursary, set up to commemorate the Irish Heart Foundation's first medical director, is funded by Pfizer Healthcare Ireland and aims to promote innovative research. Applications from registrars, GPs and nursing staff are welcome.
"We're looking for original ideas that might not get through otherwise. It will be a fresh idea, maybe just a spark, and so perhaps wouldn't have the credibility it needs for a peer review. The aim is to encourage people to try something different and give them a bit of funding to work on it," said Dr Maurer.
Funds for the Noel Hickey Bursary are €5,000-€15,000 depending on the project. The closing date for applications is March 2nd. The closing date for applications for the 2007 Irish Heart Foundation Research Grants is February 23rd. For more information, contact Cora Lavin at clavin@irishheart.ie or log onto www.irishheart.ie.