Research Projects Supported by Meningitis Association Scotland

Early work by Meningitis Association Scotland

The first vaccine team researching Meningitis in Scotland was Professor Caroline Blackwell and Professor Donald Weir, who were working in Edinburgh University without any funding, way back in 1991.

Shortly following on from them was Dr. Jan M. Braun who still works with us but is now based in Leipzig, Germany.

Later on we were contacted by a laboratory in New South Wales, Australia, who asked for help as their laboratory was facing closure. We took them on board as well and they have been doing wonderful work there ever since.

£121,000 DNA Sequencer Machine Donated to S.M.P.R.L

Yet another first was our presentation to the Scottish meningococcal and pneumococcal reference laboratory (SMPRL). Of a new DNA sequencer machine which Cost ?121,600 and worth every penny.

Its function is to detect the meningitis bacteria immediately without having the bacteria to be grown in the laboratory. It can detect meningitis immediately and hence have the patient treatment begin

Hunter Immunology Unit, HAPS

We soon solved their problem and they have all been funded by us ever since, However the laboratory in edinburgh was closed and all the research is now being carried out in Australia, as both our teams amalgamated. We have been funding them ever since regardless of where they are all located

Find out more about Hunter Immunology Unit, HAPS here.

£8,000 Haemodialfiltration Unit Machine Donated to Yorkhill Hospital

Pioneering work has been carried out by Dr Crispin Best at R.H.S.C. Yorkhill hospital who pioneered a new treatment for the particulary deadly Meningococcal septicaemia.

The Meningitis Association Scotland presented the hospital with the first Haemodialfiltration Unit machine at a cost of £8,000. The unit has saved the lives of many children without loss of limbs or brain damage.

Read more about the Haemodialfiltration Unit Machine donated to Yorkhill Hospital

You can read more about the Haemodiafiltration process here.

Dr C.J.Best has also written an informative article about Meningococcal Septicaemia and Intensive Care. Read the full article here.

Current Research Teams

It is not widely known but the Meningitis Association of Scotland fund research not only in Scotland but also at research units in other countries, including:

Research into vaccines including Meningococcal 'B':

Dr. C. C. Blackwell, PhD., FRC Path, DSc Hunter Immunology Unit, Royal Newcastle Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

Dr. J. M. Braun, PhD., Institute for Scientific Evaluation of Naturopathy, University of Cologne, Germany.

Meningococcal and Pneumococcal Disease:

Increasing the number of labortory confirmed cases and improving epidemiological surveillance.

Dr S. C. Clarke (Director), Scottish Meningococcal and pneumococcal Reference Laboratory, Stobhil NHS Trust, The House On The Hill, Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow G21

Haemofiltration in Meningococcal Sepsis:

A Scottish Development, Dr C. J Best, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow.

Worldwide collaboration by Dr M. G Leeson and the team in the Immunology Unit of the Royal Newcastle Hospital in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australian into susceptibility of meningococcal disease including valuable work with the indigenous people.

Monitoring and Infection control and surveillance:

Dr Peter Christie (S.C.I.E.H.), Scottish Centre for infection and Environmental Health, Clifton House, Clifton Place, Glasgow G3 7LN.

Long Term survivors and the related problems.

Dr David A. Johnstone, Child and Family Health Service, 3 Rillbank Terrace, Edinburgh.

Collaboration with scientists in 16 countries worldwide including United States of America, Greece and Portugal.

Research Projects Supported by M.A.S (Meningitis Association Scotland) Laboratories

Meningococcal and Pneumococcal Disease