A RESEARCH project which could bring hope to thousands of people living with genetic heart conditions is under way in the region.

Scientists at Newcastle University have been given a grant of £70,000 by the National Heart Research Fund (NHRF) to try to identify the genes which can contribute to inheritable heart diseases.

The team, led by Dr Bernard Keavney, believes the study of more than 250 patients could have significant implications for families and children affected by this form of heart disease.

Every year, about 4,000 babies are born in the UK with some form of congenital heart disease and it is the biggest single cause of childhood death in Britain.

At any one time there are about 150,000 people aged 16 or over living with congenital heart disease. About 12,000 have complex conditions which will require lifelong treatment.

Although genes are known to play an important role in this form of heart disease, the precise identity of the genes is unknown.

Dr Keavney said: "A deeper understanding of the genetic origins of congenital heart disease may help us to understand why certain families appear to have a predisposition to the condition.

"In the long-term, a closer knowledge of the molecular basis of the condition could help develop improved methods for preventing and treating it."

The study will survey patients and their families, ana-lysing DNA profiles taken from blood samples to find out which genes are consistently present.