TWO UNIVERSITIES and two State health organisations have formed a cross-Border partnership on research into diabetes.
The Atlantic-Alliance for Co-operation on Research into Diabetes grouping involves NUI Galway, the University of Ulster, the Health Service Executive West and its Northern counterpart, the Western Health and Social Care Trust.
Diabetes is to be targeted because of its “increasing prevalence and the associated healthcare costs”, the grouping says.
Participants will include researchers and clinicians with their patients, and allied health professionals, including dieticians, podiatrists, diabetes specialist nurses, information technology specialists and psychologists.
“Tackling diabetes has become an international healthcare priority in the western world,” said Prof Fidelma Dunne, head of NUIG’s medicine school. “This new research alliance, Atlantic -ACORD, is all about joined-up thinking and pooling resources and expertise North and South of the Border.”
NUIG has been carrying out the first study of its type on the prevalence and effect of diabetes among pregnant women in Ireland, working with a cohort of more than 10,000 women. International estimates suggest the condition occurs in 2-9 per cent of all pregnancies. Babies whose mothers have diabetes run an increased risk of congenital malformations, stillbirths and neonatal deaths, according to NUIG.