2005 Press Releases
Freemasons to Support Medical Research Project at UCC
The Freemasons of Ireland Medical Research Fund has announced its
support for a research project being undertaken by Professor Edward
Johns of the Department of Physiology at UCC. The project is an
investigation of how gene therapy may be used to slow the progression
of chronic renal failure.
The support for this project follows on the Fund's assistance for a
research project at the Belfast City Hospital into Cochlear
implantation, particularly for children who were born profoundly deaf,
but also involving adults suffering from acute deafness. The project
received funding from the Freemasons for four and a half years until it
reached completion recently.
The initiative at University College Cork is to investigate the
mechanisms underlying the chronic renal failure. In this disease
process, growth factors are stimulated inappropriately and as a result
irreversibly damage kidney tissue. The project will use short
interfering RNA (SiRNA) to block the expression of the gene for growth
factor TGF-b to explore its potential as a therapeutic agent initially
using animal models of chronic renal failure. Chronic renal
failure is associated with obesity and diabetes type II that are
increasing at an alarming rate in Ireland and most developed
countries. The development of novel therapeutic approaches could
slow the progression of the disease and thereby have a major health
benefit.
The Freemasons of Ireland Medical Research Fund is part of the Order's
ongoing commitment to support a variety of medical research projects on
this island and to make a positive and relevant contribution to Irish
society.
Others areas of activity undertaken by the Freemasons of Ireland, a non
sectarian, non political, charity focused fraternal organisation,
include assisting a number of young people with their education costs
where family circumstances require, and the provision of accommodation
and support to the elderly.
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