Corporate Partners - (Listed alphabetically)

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has a challenging and inspiring mission: to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. This mission gives us the purpose to develop innovative medicines and products that help millions of people around the world.

As a company with a firm foundation in science, we have a flair for research and a track record of turning that research into innovative and effective drugs. Every hour we spend more than €350,000 to find new medicines. This includes screening about 65 million compounds each year in our search for new medicines.

We produce medicines across many disease areas - asthma, virus control, infectious disease, mental health, diabetes and digestive conditions. In addition, we are a leader in the important area of vaccines and are developing new treatments for cancer. For further information, please see our website www.gsk.com.

In Ireland, we work with a wide range of patient groups, in a variety of different disease areas such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. Our interest in patient advocacy is about understanding patient needs and their illness. Our aim is to support the voice of patients and to foster a constructive healthcare debate for all stakeholders. GSK and patient groups share a vision to improve patients’ access to effective treatments and services.

In 2009, GSK, through our Allen & Hanburys team, provided the Asthma Society of Ireland with a grant totalling €10,000 to support the Society’s general activities. 

Allen & Hanburys' funding represented approximately 0.75%% of the overall income of the Asthma Society of Ireland in 2009.

Despite significant advances in healthcare in recent decades, many diseases are still under-diagnosed or not well treated, or there is not yet an effective therapy. Continued innovation is required to address these unmet medical needs. At the same time, the growing demand for healthcare, driven by people living longer, increasing populations and the emergence of new economies, means ever greater pressure on budgets.

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of meaningful prescription medicines and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of US$ 31.6 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infectious disease medicines.

At AstraZeneca, our challenge is to balance the associated pressure on the price of medicines with the cost of the continued innovation that brings benefit for patients and society. Innovative medicines also bring economic as well as therapeutic benefit to patients, helping to contribute to the communities in which we operate.

It is for this reason that AstraZeneca during 2008 donated grants of €20,400 to assist the Asthma Society in their quest for improvements for Asthma patients in Ireland.

During 2006, support was given to the Asthma Society for their 'Asthma Schools Project'. This project involved the largest 'attitudes to asthma in schools' questionnaire ever to be carried out to date in Ireland. As a result of this, a booklet was written and produced to support the needs of those looking after children with asthma in the educational setting. To date, this has been one of the most requested items the Asthma Society has developed.

In 2007 AstraZeneca and the Asthma Society worked together on the Boston Marathon project where 5 people with asthma competed in the Boston Marathon, U.S.A

For more information on the collaborative work between AstraZeneca and the Asthma Society please contact the Asthma Society of Ireland.

In 2006, Dyson and the Asthma Society of Ireland joined forces as research partners to tackle the growing problem of asthma in Ireland and to increase awareness about asthma and allergies whilst raising funds for the organisation.

To launch the partnership the Asthma Society of Ireland, in conjunction with its research partner Dyson carried out a number of activities which included a series of Asthma information days. This initiative was introduced to help address the problem of Asthma in Ireland. Asthma Clinics were set-up around the country in leading Dyson retail outlets to offer members of the public information on Asthma. Qualified respiratory nurses were on hand to answer questions about asthma, and learn more about how to reduce the risk of allergens in the home. This proved a huge success country wide.

In addition to the Asthma Clinics, the Asthma Society of Ireland also launched the follow-up Irish ISAAC Research Study (based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood protocol) 2006-7. The aim of this ISAAC study was to obtain ongoing knowledge of the growing prevalence and seriousness of asthma and allergies in children in Ireland. The ASI carried out this study in over 35 of secondary schools throughout the Republic of Ireland in a similar fashion to that of previous studies. In addition, dust samples from the school classrooms were analysed for allergens such as house dust mites and moulds. The study, partly funded by Dyson through a series of joint promotions with the Asthma Society, gained insight into the role of allergen exposure in the school environment, where children spend between 25-30% of their day. Dyson provided access to their research facilities and scientific expertise to analyse the dust for allergens which was conducted in the Dyson micro-biology lab at the Dyson HQ in Malmesbury, Wiltshire.

In 2007 Dyson and the Asthma Society of Ireland (ASI) stepped up their campaign to tackle the problem of asthma in Ireland. Together, Dyson and the ASI, designed a campaign to further raise awareness of asthma and allergies in Ireland whilst raising funds for research.

Dyson introduced the Dyson DC19 Allergy model which helps to remove pollen and dust mites - some of the main causes of allergies in the home. Dyson also gave a free Home Cleaning Kit* to every one who bought the new model over the promotional period. Such is Dyson's commitment to the ASI, the machine helped to raise funds, by donating €10 to the charity for every one sold.

Dyson's patented cyclone technology means the DC19 Allergy retains even the finest dust particles. A HEPA filter with bacteria killing screen traps bacteria and mould is stopped dead in its tracks. The DC19 Allergy also comes with a Flat OutTM tool that's thin enough to fit under low furniture. So it's easier to reach under sofas and beds to get rid of those fluffballs and the allergy sufferer's arch enemy; the dust mite.

This year Dyson and the ASI will once again run a campaign that will engage the consumer and increase awareness of Asthma in Ireland. Proceeds from every Dyson DC19 Allergy and DC20 Stowaway Allergy sold will be donated to the Asthma Society of Ireland. This promotion will commence on World Asthma Day (6th May 2008) and run until the end of the month In conjunction with this Dyson will for the first time be sponsoring the national pollen count from May to July 2008.The irishhealth.com pollen and airborne allergen forecasts use data provided by the UK National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit's network. These forecasts can assist people who suffer from asthma and allergic rhinitis to plan their activities. The forecasting service provides an index of the risk of being affected by airborne allergic pollens. Go to website.

Check our Latest News Section for your chance to Win a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner!

Merck Sharp & Dohme Ireland (Human Health) Ltd. is committed to partnering with third party groups such as the Asthma Society of Ireland to achieve common goals such as providing balanced information, advice and support for patients. The company's support to the ASI has delivered some extremely successful and innovative campaigns over the last few years.

In 2008 MSD provided an unrestricted educational grant to support research initiatives and attendance at an international conference.

www.allergyandasthma.ie

NeilMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a physician-founded and family owned business that invents and manufactures nasal care products that relieve nasal and sinus symptoms. The nose is one of the body's filters so nasal cleanliness is a primary factor for good health. This is achieved by regularly performing a saline rinse.

What is saline nasal rinsing?

• Saline nasal rinsing is a therapeutic and natural technique to alleviate and prevent rhinitis, allergies and sinus symptoms. Saline nasal rinses use a salt water mixture to effectively wash away excess mucus and allergens in the nasal passages that can result in allergies or infections.
• Saline nasal rinsing is also called nasal wash, nasal lavage, nasal irrigation, nasal bidet and nasal douche.
• The practice of saline nasal rinsing has been widely utilized for hundreds of years in Eastern cultures such as India and Southeast Asia.

Why is saline nasal rinsing important?

• Saline nasal rinsing has been clinically shown to alleviate allergy- and sinus-related symptoms. It is more effective than commonly used saline sprays at providing short-term relief of chronic nasal symptoms and prevents recurring sinus conditions.
• Saline nasal rinsing is a safe, well-tolerated, inexpensive, effective, long-term therapy for patients with chronic sinus symptoms.
• Daily use of a saline nasal rinse improves sinus-related quality of life, decreases symptoms, and decreases medication use in patients with frequent sinusitis.
• Positive pressure nasal irrigation cleanses the sinuses more consistently than other methods.

NeilMed’s flagship Sinus RinseTM product is a large volume low positive pressure nasal rinse that is available nationwide in Ireland in Pharmacies and select health food stores, NeilMed Pharmaceuticals are Proud Sponsors of the Asthma Society of Ireland. Please visit our website at www.neilmed.co.uk for more information on the science and benefits of nasal rinsing.

Pynnonen, MA, et al. Nasal saline for chronic sinonasal symptoms: A randomized controlled trial. Arch Otolaryngology Head Neck Surg. 2007 Aug;133(11): 1115-1120.

Rabago D, et al. Qualitative aspects of nasal irrigation use by patients with chronic sinus disease in a multimethod study. 2006 Jul-Aug;4(4):295-301. Rabago D, et al. Efficacy of daily hypertonic saline nasal irrigation among patients with sinusitis: a randomized controlled trial. J Fam Pract. 2002 Dec;51(12):1049-55.

Olson DEL, Radiographic comparison of three methods for nasal saline irrigation. Laryngoscope. 2002 Aug;112:1394-1398.

In 2008 Novartis supported the work of the Asthma Society with an unrestricted educational grant of €20,000.