£2.1 million donation brings scanner to Dundee

Research into heart disease at the University has been given a major boost with the donation of £2.1 million from Perthshire businessman Brian Souter to purchase and operate an MRI scanner.

The donation has been made to the University's Institute of Cardiovascular Research (TICR) at Ninewells Hospital, through the charity Chest Heart & Stroke, Scotland.

"This is a magnificent philanthropic gesture from Mr Souter and one which will have a significant impact on the work we can do here in Dundee," said Professor Jill Belch, Head of the Institute.

"An MRI scanner is something which will allow us to broaden our research into new areas and will help us prevent heart disease, rather than merely treat it. This will have a huge impact on the lives of people in Tayside and Fife for many years to come."

Scottish women have the lowest life expectancy in Western Europe and Scottish men are trailed only by Portuguese men. Health inequality inside Scotland itself is also striking with life expectancy for males in poorer parts of the country as low as 54 years old - the same as Cambodia. Prevention and early detection is important when one considers that 50% of heart attack victims die before they get to hospital.

Mr Brian Souter said, "Heart disease is the number one killer in Scotland and I hope that the MRI scanner and the research it will carry out will help to decrease the number of people affected by this killer disease. I am also pleased that the scanner will be available to the NHS to help reduce waiting times."

Mr David Clark, CEO Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland said, "Scotland has made real progress in reducing death from heart disease and improving treatment, however we have been less successful in preventing heart disease from occurring. This major donation from Mr Souter, mediated through Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, will help reduce the incidence of this major killer over decades to come."

TICR brings together teams of specialists in vascular biology, cardiac disease, nutrition, epidemiology and fundamental laboratory science to enable detection and intervention of heart-related diseases at an earlier stage. Two other key members of this award are Professor Allan Struthers, an international expert on heart failure, and Professor Frank Sullivan who leads research in Primary care in Tayside and North Fife. The charitable campaign to fund the institute has raised more than £4.5 million, which has helped build new laboratories in the University Medical School dedicated to cardiovascular research, established new Chairs in Cardiology and Vascular Surgery, and brought new research staff to Dundee.

Shobna Vasishta, Chairman of the TICR appeal, said, "I am aware that Mr Souter has for some time been working behind the scenes to increase Scotland's awareness of its health problem and to provide ways to assist the reduction of Scotland's high incidence of cardiovascular disease. With his help, researchers at Ninewells can make a positive contribution in combating Scottish heart disease."

The scanner, based at the new Clinical Research Centre at Ninewells, will be used to detect early heart and lung disease, and anyone based in Tayside and North Fife, over the age of 40, without known heart disease can volunteer to take part in the scanning study, which begins this Summer/Autumn.

Anyone who would like further information should call 01382 633963 and leave their details.