Boehringer Ingelheim awards funding for AF-related stroke projects

Boehringer Ingelheim has awarded one million euros (885,800 pounds) in funding to support a number of global projects to aid prevention of strokes resulting from atrial fibrillation (AF).

The company has announced 32 different winners for its 1 Million 1 Mission scheme, which will allocate shares of the fund to individuals, professional groups and healthcare centres in 18 different countries.

Winning projects include a new iPhone app to detect irregular heart rhythms, an online social media platform and a local electrocardiogram monitoring initiative, with these campaigns aimed at preventing up to one million AF-related strokes.

The 1 Million 1 Mission project was launched by Boehringer Ingelheim last year, with actress Jane Seymour acting as its spokesperson.

Professor John Camm, a member of the expert panel for the scheme, said: "These projects will take an important step in preventing AF-related strokes and have the potential to save many lives across the world."

Earlier this month, the company noted that its AF stroke prevention therapy Pradaxa has been prescribed to more than 350,000 patients since being launched last year.