Research study funded in memory of Ryan - United Kingdom

Meningitis UK is a member of the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO)

Hundreds of Sheffield students taking part in pioneering medical trials could help to save future generations from the deadly brain bug meningitis.

The ground-breaking study at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital will see students inoculated with friendly bacteria through nasal drops which could stop harmful bacteria living in the nose and throat.

The student volunteers are giving their time to protect others against a disease which particularly affects young people aged 16 to 24.

Professor of Infectious Diseases and Honorary Consultant Physician at Sheffield University, Robert Read, who is leading the study said "We are trying to discover a new way of preventing meningitis by administering friendly bacteria through nasal drops to prevent people catching the unfriendly bacteria.

"This could be an important piece in the jigsaw in the fight against meningitis.

"As a clinician, every time you see another case of meningitis you wish it had been your last.

"Meningitis is often devastating and hits our young, fit people who are otherwise completely well and sometimes leaves them with lasting disabilities."

On Wednesday (November 23), the parents of a 16-year-old sports scholar who lost his life to meningitis visited the study they have funded in his memory.

At 16, Ryan Bresnahan's life ended within an hour of complaining of an upset stomach at his home in Bristol on March 31, 2010.

It was one of the fastest cases of meningitis ever recorded, shattering the lives of the young sport star's family and leaving his friends at college stunned.

His devastated parents John and Michelle Bresnahan, vowed the death of their talented son would not be in vain and set up the 'a LIFE for a CURE' appeal to support Meningitis UK's research work.

After 18 months and tireless fundraising, Mr and Mrs Bresnahan have raised more than £130,000 to fund the entire project.

Mr Bresnahan, saidL "After Ryan died we felt a burning need to do something proactive.

"All we could think was why isn't there a vaccine to stop this terrible disease? Now a year and a half later, we have the opportunity to gain a real understanding of the work first hand and to meet Professor Read and his colleagues, but also to see our tireless fundraising efforts turned into pioneering research.

"We know Ryan would be extremely proud of everyone's achievements."

Mrs Bresnahan added, "We are so grateful to the generous students of Sheffield for giving their time to this study which could play an important part in saving the lives of future students like Ryan - who are full of promise and deserve the right to live a full and healthy life."

 

They  unveiled a plaque at the hospital's Clinical Research Facility to commemorate the start of the project being made possible in their son's name.

Kate Rowland, head of development at Meningitis UK, said: "Meningitis and associated diseases strike with incredible speed and are notoriously difficult to diagnose which is why we feel strongly that putting a stop to the disease through prevention is the only way to save lives.

"This ground-breaking study could make a huge difference to the protection of this vulnerable age group from meningitis and the devastation it causes in the future."

For more information or to donate to 'a LIFE for a CURE' visit: www.ryanbresnahan.co.uk

To find out about Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, visit: www.meningitisuk.org.