A €600,000 funding boost was announced today to help 200,000 Irish people suffering from rare diseases.
The Health Research Board (HRB) and new umbrella body called the Medical Research Charities Group (MRCG) today awarded the money to the Research Fellowships in Rare Diseases.
The money will pay for research to improve patient treatment and care for people with potentially life-threatening diseases such as cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy.
Two fellowships worth a minimum of €300,000 will be awarded on a full-time basis over three years, beginning in 2006.
Researchers who are interested or working in the area of rare diseases are urged to apply for funding. Successful candidates will also get the chance to travel and work at internationally renowned research centres.
Rare diseases are classed as life-threatening or chronically debilitating diseases that affect five in every 10,000 people. They include cystic fibrosis, retinitis pigmentosa, muscular dystrophy, cystinosis and epidermolysis bullosa, a chronically deblitating disease that causes the skin to blister severely.
The MRCG, which represents 16 charities, was set up last week to promote, support and source funding for medical research in Ireland. Members include Arthritis Ireland, Ash Ireland, Asthma Society of Ireland, Brainwave, the Irish Epilepsy Association, the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Heart Foundation.
PA