Scotland university awarded £4.4m to target Chagas disease

Researchers at Dundee University have been provided with the funding for work on a disease that can kill victims without them ever knowing they were infected.

 

Chagas disease is caused by a parasite and is estimated to affected millions of people worldwide.  Reports of the disease are rare in the UK.  It is currently found mainly in Central and South America, but has started to spread further.

 

Symptoms of the disease tend to be similar to a mild cold or fever, which means people often dismiss them.

 

Scientists will use the money to develop pre-clinical drug trials for the disease.

 

Dr Manu De Rycker, head of translational parasitology at the university’s School of Life Sciences, said the disease could cause life-threatening damage to the heart, colon and oesophagus.

 

He said “Decades after being infected, a large number of people – around 30% – will go on to develop the disease.

 

“It is the classic definition of a silent killer and the symptoms that a person has become infected tend to be only mild and similar to a mild cold or fever, meaning that people just tend to dismiss them.”

 

The World Health Organisation estimates that between six and seven million people are infected with the disease, which has started to travel around the world due to large-scale population movements.

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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