Dr Hadwen Trust announces grants of £0.7m to fund research
Aiming to develop drugs for a range of diseases while reducing use of animals in testing
The Dr Hadwen Trust (DHT) charity has pledged more than £720k to fund research into bipolar disorder, cardiovascular disease, cystic fibrosis, motor-neuron disease, rabies and schizophrenia.
The projects, which will start at seven UK universities this year, aim to further the understanding and treatment of a range of diseases while developing methods to reduce the number of animals used in research.
The innovative and humane research projects are the latest additions to a portfolio of medical research funded by the DHT since 1970 that does not harm animals and has helped treat diseases such as cancer, heart disease and mental health disorders.
The new projects aim to:
- Improve understanding of nerve-muscle interaction in motor-neuron disease (Cranfield University);
- Develop and test devices used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease (Dundee University);
- Develop a plant-based product to help prevent rabies (St George’s, University of London);
- Improve understanding of brain activity in schizophrenia (Nottingham University);
- Improve gene therapy methods in cystic fibrosis (Imperial College, London);
- Improve understanding of the pharmacological mechanism in bipolar disorder (Royal Holloway, University of London);
- Develop humane techniques using MEG (Magnetoencephalography) scanning (Aston University).
Kailah Eglington, chief executive of the Dr Hadwen Trust, said: ‘All these projects offer the potential to increase understanding about devastating diseases while also helping to reduce the number of animals harmed in scientific research.
‘We urge all scientists to think about how they can help shape a more effective and humane future for medical research by using non-animal methods in their work.’
