Research into respiratory conditions strengthened

17th November 2010

Essential research into medicines for respiratory conditions in Wales has been given a boost following the launch of a new initiative being co-ordinated by experts at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC ).

Lung Research Wales (Ymchwil yr Ysgyfaint Cymru) is a new collaborative venture bringing together expertise from UWIC, Swansea University, Cardiff University and Bangor University, with the aim of strengthening respiratory research in Wales. Continued growth in this field will also have the additional benefit of attracting investment from leading pharmaceutical companies and offers greater scope for conducting large scale clinical trials.

“Through working together we can ensure that essential research into respiratory medicine in Wales achieves its potential,” said Professor Ken Jones, Cardiff School of Health Sciences, UWIC.

 “It will enable us better support research into respiratory disease in Wales and also to offer Pharmaceutical companies increased and very well-defined patient populations for their clinical trials for new medicines for such conditions.”

The Welsh Assembly Government has awarded £315,000 worth of funding for the project which will be at the fore-front of research into respiratory disease – which causes more deaths in the UK than any other disease.

Commenting on the need for more research into respiratory medicines, Professor Jones said: “In Wales we have among the highest levels of serious respiratory conditions in the world, particularly for Childhood Asthma and also for other chronic lung diseases. Yet they remain chronically underfunded.”

“The prevalence of such diseases is increasing and added to this, in Wales, we’re set to see an increase in conditions caused by environmental factors related to heavy industry, such as asbestos, as these take many years to develop.”

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