Celebrating the benefits of Cross-Border Health Intervention Research as CHITIN Programme Completes

CHITIN aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland (Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan, and Louth) through cross-border research collaborations.

The research looked at key health challenges such as youth mental health, obesity, asthma, medicine management and stroke.

CHITIN received €10.6m in funding from the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Match-funding for the project has also been provided by the Departments of Health in Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Speaking about the benefits of the project, the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, said, “My Department is committed to deepening cross-border health collaborations and expanding clinical trial capacity. This initiative represents the harmonisation of these efforts. We know that clinical trials improve patient outcomes and that strong health research performance requires fostering collaborative opportunities. CHITIN is achieving these ambitions by building a network of researchers who can support clinical trials in border regions.

Welcoming the success of the project, Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) said: “The INTERREG VA Programme seeks to ensure equity of access to healthcare services for all citizens, regardless of where they live. The CHITIN project, a unique partnership of healthcare providers with a wealth of experience in the research and development will help improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland.

“By working in collaboration, they have laid the foundations for new treatments and preventative measures that can improve the quality of life for thousands of people,” she added.

Speaking on behalf of the Department of Health, Professor Ian Young, Chief Scientific Adviser, said: “I am delighted to attend this event to celebrate the success of the EU INTERREG VA Programme, CHITIN.

“Through cross-border collaboration, it has successfully developed and delivered 11 Health Intervention Research Trials to help prevent and cure illness and improve the health and wellbeing of people in Northern Ireland and the six border county regions of Ireland.

“Health studies and trials are crucial in improving population health. The learning and collaborative working relationships developed during these trials will help shape cross-border health research into the future.”

Celebrating the success of the CHITIN project, Dr Janice Bailie, Assistant Director, Research and Development, Public Health Agency and lead partner on the project said:

“We want to celebrate the CHITIN programme. The 11 studies have been delivered through the hard work and persistence of all study teams. Not only has CHITIN helped benefit the health and wellbeing of people and prevent illness, it means that those people who may not have been able to access health research previously have had the opportunity to do so in Northern Ireland and the border regions of Ireland.”

Janice added: “I wish to extend a thank-you to all in the CHITN network, research community and to all those involved in the CHITIN programme.”

Dr Teresa Maguire, Director of Research Strategy and Funding at the Health Research Board and co-lead partner on the project, said:

“High quality research is collaborative and CHITIN has played a lead role in fostering partnerships between researchers and research institutions, researchers and patients, funders, and academic and healthcare systems, as well as across borders”.

Teresa added:

“In addition to generating robust evidence about novel healthcare, CHITIN also facilitated research training and capacity building, and created an invaluable network of research-active healthcare professionals. This will have a lasting effect on the island of Ireland beyond the completion of CHITIN.”