About
The Clinical Medicine Research Cluster undertakes research in clinical populations, including clinical trials of new therapies.
Professor Miras’s clinical research group is conducting infusion trials to assess the glucose-lowering potential, and mechanism of action, of the peptide alpha-MSH. The results of this trial will determine if alpha-MSH has potential as a novel therapy to treat diabetes. Having conducted the first-in-human clinical trial of alpha-MSH, Professor Miras’s team aims to translate other novel anti-diabetic, weight lowering peptides from basic sciences to clinical research and identify new therapies for metabolic disease.
The Paediatric Cardiology research programme, led by Professor Frank Casey, includes projects investigating a broad range of areas relevant to the care of children and young people with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD). A key focus of this research group is investigating the long-term quality of life of those treated in childhood for CHD. This includes studies on educational and developmental outcomes as well as measures of physical activity and well-being.
We are conducting a very large study on the quality of life of the Down Syndrome population, and also the Baby Hearts 2 Study investigating the potential impact of periconceptual environmental factors on CHD and developmental outcome.
The research team is multidisciplinary and having attracted additional grant funding is rapidly expanding.
Current Projects
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PEACETIME
PEACETIME is an EU PEACEPLUS funded €10.1M cross border project, led by Prof Miras, with partners in the GP Federation, National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health, Atlantic Technological University and Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity. The project seeks to develop and deliver specialist multidisciplinary obesity care to 9000 people living with obesity in the rural and urban communities of the North West of Ireland using an innovative disruptive primary care, community-based approach with digital support. The intervention seeks to positively impact patients’ quality of life and key clinical markers of health while also providing robust data to determine the health economic benefits of roll-out across the island of Ireland. The clinical intervention will also provide a testbed for a range of innovative research subprojects in areas such as digital health, nutrition and personalised medicine.
Current Projects
My Life with Down Syndrome
The Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children is partnering with Ulster University to highlight issues affecting...