9th May 2000

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A pioneering link up between the University and top pharmaceutical company Glaxo Wellcome has brought research grants to three Northern Ireland GPs.

A Glaxo-Wellcome donation of over £31,000 will enable the three GPs - Dr Ian Ryans of Carrickfergus, Dr Craig Fitzpatrick of Whiteabbey and Dr David Johnston of Cullybackey - to develop their research projects at the University's Institute for Postgraduate Medicine.

• Dr Ryan will use his award to study the assessment and management of shoulder pain in primary care
  
  
• Dr Fitzpatrick will undertake and assessment of GPs educational needs in dermatology, and
  
  
• Dr Johnston will study the issues facing general practice medicine in rural areas.
  

Welcoming the awards, Professor Domhnall MacAuley, Chair of Research in the Institute, said:

"This is one of the most exciting innovations in primary health care in Northern Ireland. It is a unique partnership between the University, healthcare practitioners and the pharmaceutical industry.

"We hope that this will become a model for future collaboration, increasing the research capacity in general practice."

And Douglas Hurt, Managing Director of Glaxo Wellcome, said:

"The University of Ulster is to be congratulated on being the first to give this unique opportunity to GPs in Northern Ireland.

"This donation underlines Glaxo Wellcome’s continued commitment to strengthening the vital relationship between academic and industry and the importance of encouraging more general practitioners to follow their research interests."

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk