In a desperate attempt to save a £36million UK project aimed at developing a ground-breaking treatment for cystic fibrosis, researchers and campaigners will go all out to raise £6million in the coming six weeks!

The last-ditch effort, by over 80 scientists who are working in London, Oxford, and Edinburgh, chiefly aims at saving the project. In case the researchers fail to raise the requisite amount, the project will be abandoned; and will thus kill the hopes of thousands of young people who are suffering from cystic fibrosis – a terminal wasting disease.

The revolutionary treatment for the illness has reportedly been perfected by the scientists comprising the Gene Therapy Consortium, with early clinical tests having revealed their success in putting genes into the lungs of patients.

The funding is desperately needed by the scientists as the finances of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust – the charity which is funding the 10-year project – have suffered because of the economic downturn --- unfortunately at a time when the researchers have come closer to their objective of developing an effective treatment for cystic fibrosis.

Revealing that the last £6million for the project should be raised by October-end, the consortium’s coordinator Professor Eric Alton said that in case the funds are not raised, their staff will have to be laid off, medicines will have to be thrown away, and they will have to “disband” --- all that just when their target is well “in sight”!