UCC conference to focus on blood cell disorder

More than 250 internationally renowned doctors and scientists will take part in conference in UCC next month which focuses on a blood cell disorder which claimed the life of a young Cork girl.

The 10th international Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia conference will be held at the UCC Brookfield Health Sciences Complex from Jun 12-15, and it will be hosted by the Grace Nolan Foundation.

Mike Nolan founded the foundation 10 years ago when he lost his 10-year-old daughter to HHT, a genetic disorder which affects the formation of blood cells.

HHT affects one in 5,000 people and, in some cases, it can be fatal.

The Grace Nolan Foundation looks to raise awareness of the genetic disorder and has raised and contributed millions of euro into research to find a cure.

“This is only the second time the conference has been held outside of the United States,” said Mr Nolan.

“We are very privileged to secure it for Cork and Ireland.”

The conference will focus on intensive discussions and debates on the medical submissions that have been approved by the international medical committee, including Marianne Clancy, executive director of the HHT Foundation International, USA.

Some of the top scientific minds and global leaders in their field will take part, including Alan E Guttmacher, director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

In addition to the conference, the Grace Nolan Foundation is organising a special Saturday workshop where patients and families can attend and put their questions to a number experts.

“We have already established an Irish patients’ centre of excellence in the Mercy University Hospital with Dr Adrian Brady and I hope that this conference will further help patients and families affected by HHT worldwide,” said Mr Nolan.