Over 20 Years of Progress

Charity registered on 16 May 1989 under its original name of Meningitis Research Appeal by the parents of a 14 month old child who died of Group B meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia.

The charity focuses on the funding of scientific research as a means of combating meningitis and associated infections.

The charity establishes its helpline in the UK. The helpline subsequently becomes the first Freefone 24 hour meningitis helpline service and is accredited with the Telephone Helpline Association’s Quality Standard.

Scientific research funding begins with three grants totalling £49,000, including initial funding for laboratories at St Mary’s Hospital, London dedicated to research into meningococcal disease under the direction of Professor Mike Levin.

The charity opens an office in Northern Ireland. Offices are opened in Scotland in 1993 and the Republic of Ireland in 1996, reflecting local concern on a global issue.

The first public awareness initiative to specifically highlight the different symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia – the blood poisoning form of the disease - 'A Race Against Time'.

The Foundation launches the UK’s first public campaign to identify a septicaemic rash – the Tumbler Test. The British Medical Association and the Royal College of General Practitioners endorsed materials and campaign are credited with helping to save 15 lives in its first year alone.

The charity launched a groundbreaking study into health care delivery for children with meningococcal disease. The study concludes that some deaths of children could have been avoided.

The Foundation publishes and distributes the 'Early Management of Meningococcal Disease in Children' protocol to hospitals across the UK. The protocol was developed at St Mary’s Hospital, London with the help of research funding from the charity. Over a six year period, St Mary's achieved a reduction in the death rate of meningococcal disease from 23% to 2%.

A new vaccine against Group C meningococcal disease is introduced in the UK one year ahead of schedule. The Foundation's helpline team plays a key role in providing up-to-date information on the vaccine and the immunisation programme, taking 8000 calls from members of the public and health professionals between July 1999 and February 2000. The introduction of the vaccine resulted in a 99% reduction in cases of Group C meningococcal disease in the UK.

MRF’s Telephone Befriender Network brings together people who have been affected offering support from a trained befriender to those more recently affected. The programme achieves Approved Provider Standard from the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation in 2007.

GPs are often at the frontline of diagnosing meningitis and septicaemia. MRF supports them with the 'Meningococcal Meningitis and Septicaemia – Diagnosis and Treatment in General Practice', endorsed by the British Medical Association and Irish College of General Practitioners and published in 2001.

Our research reveals the optimal age to vaccinate a premature baby to ensure the most effective and long-lasting protection against specific strains of meningitis. The research also contributed to the introduction of a booster injection for all babies in the UK at 12 months.

Group B Streptococcal (GBS) affects approximately 500 cases in babies in the UK a year. A simple dose of antibiotics given to the mother during labour can reduce the risk of a new born baby contracting GBS after birth. Our research resulted in pre-natal guidelines being developed to help health professionals identify high-risk mothers and advise them on antibiotic treatment to reduce the chances of GBS in the newborn baby.

Recognising the role that different health professional disciplines play in the diganosis and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia, MRF launch a range of new resources;'Early Recognition of Meningitis and Septicaemia – Vital Signs for Frontline Nurses'; the adult treatment protocol,'Early Management of Suspected Bacterial Meningitis and Meningococcal Septicaemia', and a protocol for ambulance personnel.

MRF funded research had shown that some doctors in training had insufficient knowledge of meningitis and septicaemia when treating cases. As a result, we worked with the UK’s Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to produce, 'Lessons from Research for Doctors in Training'. Available initially as a booklet, an interactive version was made available as a CD and on-line resource.

Pneumococcal disease kills around 1.6 million people worldwide each year, one million of whom are young children and infants. Our research project in Boston resulted in the development of a low-cost vaccine suitable for the developing world where the disease is a major killer.

Following many years of Foundation campaigning, a pneumococcal vaccine, along with a meningococcal Group C/Hib booster, is added to the UK childhood immunisation programme.

The Book of Experience presents a unique picture of the way that meningitis and septicaemia have affected individuals, families and whole communities. The Book of Experience allows people from around the world to tell their stories in their own words.

By MRF’s 20th anniversary year, the charity had funded 128 research projects to the value of £15.6 million/€17.4 million.