Cork inventor honoured for medical breakthrough

A Cork inventor has been honoured for developing the first predictive diagnosis for pre-eclampsia in early pregnancy.

Professor of Obstetrics at UCC, Louise Kenny, has won the Enterprise Ireland Life Sciences and Food Commercialisation Award for developing a new blood test which has been described as a "game changing" opportunity for preinatal care.

Currently over 500,000 infant deaths are attributed to pre-eclampsia each year. It is a condition which affects 5% of first-time mothers, involving high blood pressure, which can develop into eclampsia: a life-threatening condition in which seizures affect the mother.

This blood test will help identify 'at risk' first time mothers in early pregnancy - allowing steps to be taken which could prevent almost a third of cases.