Action Medical Research 1489464 174028093 2007-11-27T00:49:45Z SmackBot 433328 Standard headings &/or gen fixes. using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] '''Action Medical Research''' is a British medical research charity, founded in 1952.<ref name="guidestar">[http://www.guidestar.org.uk/gs_summary.aspx?CCReg=208701 GuideStar UK: Action Medical Research] (accessed 28 September 2007)</ref><ref name="charitycommission">[http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/SIRLatest.asp?regno=208701 Charity Commission: Action Medical Research (Charity 208701)] (accessed 28 September 2007)</ref> Action Medical Research (Registered Charity No. 208701<ref name="guidestar" />) is based in [[Horsham]], [[West Sussex]]. [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]] is their patron;<ref name="AMR_Who">[http://www.action.org.uk/about_us/who_is_who.php Action Medical Research: Who's who] (accessed 28 September 2007)</ref><ref>[http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page1627.asp The official web site of the British monarchy: News: Diary of engagements of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh...] (accessed 28 September 2007)</ref> their president is [[Charles Guthrie, Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank]].<ref name="AMR_Who" /><ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldreg/149.pdf Register of Lords' Interests] - page 109 (accessed 28 September 2007)</ref> [[Paddington Bear]] has been the charity's mascot since 1976.<ref name="Paddington">[http://www.paddingtonbear.co.uk/en/1/fachispadact.mxs Paddington Bear: the official website: Paddington as the Mascot for Action Medical Research] (accessed 28 September 2007)</ref> ==History== Founded in 1952 as the National Fund for Poliomyelitis Research by Duncan Guthrie, the charity's original aim was the eradication of [[Poliomyelitis|polio]].<ref name="charitycommission" /> During the 1940s and 1950s, epidemics of paralytic poliomyelitis were frequent in the UK, and the charity helped to fund the first British [[polio vaccine]].<ref name="BBC_2000">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/994799.stm BBC News: 'Polio milestone passed' (29 October 2000)] (accessed 28 September 2007)</ref><ref name="BBC_2002">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2051284.stm BBC News: 'Europe achieves polio milestone' (18 June 2002)] (accessed 28 September 2007)</ref> After the steep reduction in paralytic poliomyelitis resulting from the introduction of the vaccine, the charity's activities diversified. It became The National Fund for Research into Poliomyelitis and Other Crippling Diseases in 1960 and The National Fund for Research into Crippling Diseases in 1967, becoming known informally as Action Research for the Crippled Child. It was renamed Action Research in 1990, and became Action Medical Research in 2003.<ref name="charitycommission" /><ref name="AMR_Name">[http://www.action.org.uk/about_us/history_name_changes.php Action Medical Research: History of name changes] (accessed 28 September 2007)</ref> The [[World Health Organization]]'s 2002 declaration that Europe is free from polio coincided with the charity's fiftieth anniversary.<ref name="BBC_2002" /> ==Projects== Their major focus has been on [[pregnancy]] and conditions affecting babies, with involvement in projects including the [[rubella]] vaccine, [[ultrasound scanning]] in pregnancy, intrauterine blood typing, [[folic acid]] in the prevention of [[spina bifida]], and the diagnosis of [[retinopathy]] in [[Premature birth|premature babies]]. Projects in older children include diet in [[liver disease]] and treatment of [[Burn (injury)|burns]] in children. Other projects include treatment for [[epilepsy]]. The charity has also been involved in [[hip replacement surgery]] and the development of aids for the elderly and severely disabled, including communication aids, the shapeable 'matrix' wheelchair and the 'Tools for Living' programme. The charity has also funded research into [[osteoporosis]], [[nerve]] repair, [[hydrocephalus]] and [[myasthenia gravis]]. Their current campaign 'Touching Tiny Lives' is raising money for research to prevent premature births, and [[pre-eclampsia]] and other life-threatening complications of pregnancy. It also aims to improve treatments for babies requiring special care. Supported by celebrities [[Tony Hadley]] and [[Martin Fry]], the campaign had raised £2.5 million by June 2007.<ref name="EDM">[http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33599&SESSION=885 Parliamentary Information Management Services: Early Day Motion 1762: Touching Tiny Lives campaign and pre-term birth] (accessed 28 September 2007)</ref> Action Medical Research is also involved in lobbying the UK government to increase funding for research in these areas, which has led to an [[early day motion]] from [[Stewart Jackson]], [[List of United Kingdom MPs|MP]], signed by a total of 69 MPs.<ref name="EDM" /> ==Fundraising activities== The charity has organised an annual, 100-mile, sponsored cycle ride since 1982; five hundred cyclists participated in the 2007 event.<ref name="AMC_cycling">[http://www.action.org.uk/get_involved/cycling.php Action Medical Research: Cycling] (accessed 28 September 2007)</ref> They also organise an annual London-to-Paris sponsored cycle ride, timed to coincide with the [[Tour de France]], as well as numerous local sports events.<ref name="AMC_cycling" /> The annual 'Bring Your Bear' event celebrates mascot [[Paddington Bear]]'s birthday on 25 June, with over five hundred schools and children's groups participating in 2007; 'Bring Your Bear' is supported by television personality, [[Zoë Ball]].<ref name="Paddington" /><ref name="BYB">[http://www.paddingtonbear.co.uk/en/1/facnewbyb.mxs Paddington Bear: the official website: Bring Your Bear for Action Medical Research] (accessed 28 September 2007)</ref><ref name="AMR_BYB">[http://www.action.org.uk/news_media/BYB_2007.php Action Medical Research: Supporter News: Bring Your Bear 2007] (accessed 28 September 2007)</ref> The charity publishes a supporters' magazine, ''Touching Lives'', with issues from 2002 available online. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.action.org.uk/ Action Medical Research] [[Category:Health charities in the United Kingdom]]