National charity Heart research UK has launched a new research grant. Intercalated BSc Scholarship grants fund medical students who take a year out whilst undertaking a science degree, which includes an extended research project.
Kirsty Douglas, a medical student at the University of Aberdeen was awarded the Grant of £7,000 after being put forward by Dr Helen Galley, who organises the Intercalated degree programme.
Miss Douglas will be working with Drs Cuthbertson and Hillis, experts in critical care and cardiology respectively.
Miss Douglas, 22, has received a grant to fund research that will determine whether a simple measurement in blood can help identify heart failure in critically ill patients.
This will be the first research of its kind to identify the link between plasma levels of B-natiuretic peptide BNP,a protein produced in the heart in response to stress) and the prediction of heart failure in critically ill patients.
This could ultimately lead to a faster, cheaper and more reliable way of monitoring critically ill patients who have a high risk of heart dysfunction.
She says: "I chose to undertake this research project to equip me with essential research skills which will be invaluable to my future career in cardiovascular medical research.
"This research project is incredibly exciting for me as I know that it could alter that way critically ill patients are treated, and will hopefully reduce not only the amount of time patients have to stay in intensive care units, but also reduce the number of deaths from heart related problems."
Barbara Harpham, National Director of Heart Research UK added: "Heart Research UK places strong emphasis on supporting clinical and surgical projects and young researchers on their first steps into research.
"Most people have been affected by heart disease in some way and we want to help scientists improve treatments and techniques to help save lives. We’d like to ask the people of Abberdeen to support us by raising money, so please get in touch if you would like to help us."
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For further information please contact Jennifer Ward at Heart Research UK on 0113 297 6205.
Additional notes to editor
Heart Research UK
Heart Research UK is a visionary charity founded in 1967 by Mr Watson, a working heart surgeon, who realised that patients were dying unnecessarily because of the lack of research in heart disease, especially surgical techniques. Having funded six of the first eight UK heart transplants the charity leads the way funding ground breaking, medical research projects into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease. There is a strong emphasis on supporting clinical and surgical projects and young researchers on their first steps into research. The Charity currently funds over £2.3m of research projects at 32 hospitals and universities across the UK. In addition over £150,000 has been awarded to community-based lifestyle projects that aim to prevent or reduce the risks of heart disease.