So far this year, we’ve invested more than £2.3 million in new research, and it’s all thanks to you. With your ongoing support,10 exciting new studies are getting underway across a range of important areas. Find out more about the work your support has made possible.
Preventing premature birth and helping sick babies
Co-funded with Borne, two projects are tackling the causes of premature birth – including one to develop a much-needed treatment to prevent early labour that is linked to infection or inflammation in the baby’s mother.
We’re also supporting work to protect babies at risk of brain injury due to a lack of oxygen at birth.
Fighting sight loss in children
Dominant optic atrophy is an inherited cause of blindness that causes progressive and irreversible sight loss from early childhood. It’s caused by the gradual degeneration of the optic nerve, which carries visual signals from the eyes to the brain.
With Action funding, researchers at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology hope to identify key genes involved in the death of optic nerve cells. This could help to uncover new treatment approaches to slow down or stop sight loss in children.
Uniting to tackle cystic fibrosis
We’re delighted to continue our joint efforts with the charity Cystic Fibrosis Trust. This lifelong genetic condition affects around 3,800 babies and children in the UK. It can make it hard for them to breathe and digest food.
Two new co-funded research projects are underway – one to improve treatment for children with an inconclusive diagnosis, the other to develop new medicines for those who don't respond to current treatment options.
Helping teenagers with PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects around one in 10 women in the UK and can start as early as puberty. Teenagers with PCOS can experience symptoms such as irregular periods, excess body hair, acne, and obesity, which can negatively impact their wellbeing and mental health.
A pilot study at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital is investigating whether a food supplement called myo-inositol can help. This could ultimately lead to a safe, effective and accessible new treatment option for young people with PCOS.
Our latest Research Training Fellows
We also have our three new Research Training Fellows. This scheme supports some of the most promising doctors and researchers early in their research careers – developing future leaders in children’s medical research.
These researchers are working to help children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, to treat pain in newborn babies, and to fight a rare brain condition called Rasmussen's encephalitis. You can read more about them in this blog.
Thank you for helping us fund research to save and change children's lives – you can read more about each of our current research projects here.
