Action Medical Research announces grants to investigate conditions affecting babies, children

Action Medical Research - the leading UK-wide medical research charity dedicated to helping babies and children - has today announced grants worth more than £1.3 million for top researchers across the country.

The charity has been supporting significant medical breakthroughs for nearly 60 years, and today announced its latest round of funding to top research institutes at universities and hospitals investigating conditions affecting babies and children.

In this latest round of funding, the charity has given out a total of £1,362,276 across ten different research projects including studies looking into stillbirth, asthma, and blindness.

• Blindness - treating childhood cataracts, two years, £124,840 granted to researchers at the Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London
•  Brain tumour removal - minimising brain damage, eighteen months, £98,120 granted to researchers at the University of Bristol and Frenchay Hospital, Bristol
•  Stillbirth - investigating the causes, two years, £165,529 awarded to researchers at Addenbrookes Hospital, University of Cambridge.
•  Preterm labour - studying the actions of oxytocin, three years, £195,773 awarded to researchers at the University of Bristol
•  Pregnancy complications - using new imaging techniques to predict problems, thirty months, £96,450 awarded to researchers at University of Edinburgh and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
•  Birth Asphyxia - preventing brain damage, two years, £125,341 awarded to researchers at St Michael's Hospital and University of Bristol
•  Traumatic brain injury - working memory training, three years, £130,818 awarded to researchers at various institutions in Norwich, Cambridge and Newcastle.       
•  Asthma - early diagnosis, two years, £149,264 awarded to researchers at Imperial College London and Royal Brompton Hospital, London
•  Infection - monitoring antibiotic use in babies, twenty months, £86,084 awarded to researchers at a variety of institutions in London, Liverpool, and Oxford.
•  Epilepsy - improving brain scanning before surgery, three years, £190,057 awarded to researchers at University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.

None of our work would be possible without the generosity of people who make donations, raise funds and take part in events, as well as our trust and corporate partners.

Dr Alexandra Dedman, Senior Research Evaluation Manager, said: "At Action Medical Research we are determined to stop the suffering of babies and children caused by disease and disability. We know that medical research can save and change children's lives. The charity finds and funds some of the best medical research in the world for the benefit of babies, children and young people.

"Our gold standard scientific review process ensures that we only fund the best doctors and researchers in children's hospitals, specialist units and universities across the UK and we are delighted to announce our latest grant awards."

Action Medical Research funds a total of approximately £3 million worth of research grants every year, with grant rounds in the spring and autumn.   As well as supporting project grants, the charity also awards Research Training Fellowships.