A charity set up in memory of late Tyrone GAA star Cormac McAnallen is supporting new research into the condition which led to the Eglish man's death in 2004.
The Cormac Trust, set up in memory of the former Tyrone senior football captain, is to support the research at NUI Galway into Sudden Adult Death Syndrome and the development of cures for the condition.
The support from the organisation, which was founded by Cormac's parents Brendan and Bridget, will enable research into what causes the disease and the discovery of new treatments for it.
Cormac was a well-known sportsman and of ostensibly perfect health up until the time of his death, having won an All Ireland title with his county just months before his passing at the age of just 24.
Bridget McAnallen, Cormac’s mother and director of the Cormac Trust, said “We are delighted that a cure for Long QT Syndrome, one of the most prevalent types of SADS, is on the horizon.
"Cormac McAnallen died very suddenly from this condition which often has no symptoms and kills even the strongest and fittest young people without warning.
"This amazing and ground-breaking genetic research which involves North-South co-operation is, I believe, the first research to envisage a cure for this shocking condition, which not only can kill young people, but can be passed on and cause death in successive generations, and devastate families.”
The University’s Regenerative Medicine Institute REMEDI has enrolled 20 patients into a programme analysing heart cells and causes of death.
Professor Tim O’Brien, Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Director of REMEDI, said: “We greatly appreciate the support from The Cormac Trust which enables research into the mechanism of disease and also discovery of new treatments using technology which allows researchers to grow heart cells in the laboratory.”
Funding from the Cormac Trust will support stem cell research to investigate causes and potential cures for Long QT syndrome (LQTS), one of the most prevalent forms of SADS.
The issue of sudden cardiac death among young people became more widely known among the general public largely due to the death of Cormac and Irish youth rugby international John McCall and other subsequent cases.
Since 2004, the McAnallen family have been keen to direct public attention to these cardiac conditions that cause such sudden deaths.
