Commonwealth champion Eilish McColgan Joins Groundbreaking Medical Research Project
Eilish McColgan, the esteemed Commonwealth champion who secured 10,000m gold for Scotland last year, has enthusiastically enrolled in a pioneering medical project that facilitates the utilization of unused blood samples for research purposes.
McColgan has joined Share, the Scottish Health Research Register and Biobank, which serves as a repository for consented blood samples derived from routine tests that would typically be discarded as clinical waste.
Researchers are required to submit applications to access samples from Share, and their bids are evaluated for ethical and scientific suitability. Approved researchers can then utilize the blood samples for the development of novel medicines and treatments.
Through this initiative, the NHS reported that 40,000 individuals participated in clinical research last year, contributing to significant advancements in healthcare.
Share provides registered participants with notifications about research opportunities in which they may wish to participate.
Having recently become the 300,000th person to sign up, McColgan expressed her support for the project, stating that in less than a minute, individuals can sign up and aid doctors in discovering innovative treatments for conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and dementia.
Other notable personalities who have registered for the project include former Scotland football manager Craig Levein, broadcaster Lorraine Kelly, and actress Joanna Vanderham.
Professor Colin Palmer, a renowned expert in pharmacogenomics at the University of Dundee, praised the project, highlighting its potential to revolutionize healthcare outcomes across Scotland. He warmly welcomed Eilish McColgan as the project’s 300,000th recruit, considering her an inspirational ambassador for Share.
Professor Iain McInnes, Vice-Principal and Head of College at the University of Glasgow, expressed his admiration for the remarkable registry, acknowledging its capacity to fuel even more significant advancements in the years to come, all made possible by the generous participation of the Scottish population.
