19 April 2011
HRH The Princess Royal opens new Centre for Molecular Medicine
HRH The Princess Royal will visit the University of Dundee on Tuesday April 19th, when she will officially open the new Centre for Molecular Medicine and also visit the College of Life Sciences.
The Centre for Molecular Medicine (CMM) is a new facility housed within the Clinical Research Centre, a state of the art research facility and imaging centre which is part of the University’s School of Medicine.
The CMM offers an excellent facility for research, primarily in diabetes and epithelial genetics (skin diseases).
The Centre houses around 50 research staff and was established at a cost of around £3.5million, with funding from the Wellcome Trust, Robertson Trust and the Wolfson Foundation.
HRH The Princess Royal, who is National Patron of Tenovus Scotland, will meet several researchers in the Centre who have received generous funding from the regional branch of Tenovus in Tayside. She will also meet some of the local volunteers who work hard to raise funds for the charity.
'The Centre for Molecular Medicine provides a fantastic environment in which to pursue our work in translational medicine, from making discoveries in the laboratory to delivering new treatments in the clinic,' said Professor Andrew Morris, Professor of Medicine at the University of Dundee.
'We are privileged in Tayside and Fife to receive wonderful support of the public for our research. One of the key features of the research taking place in the building is that it will utilise the fantastic resources of patient information we have, all of which has been volunteered by over 40,000 members of the public in this area. This public support is unrivaled throughout the United Kingdom.'
Professor Irene Leigh, Vice Principal of the University and Head of the College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, said, 'Tenovus has always done a remarkable job of supporting young researchers in the early stages of their careers, many of whom have gone on to international renown. This is exactly the kind of activity they are supporting in this new Centre and we are extremely grateful to them, as we are to all of our generous funders.'
As part of the visit, HRH The Princess Royal will also present the Tenovus Scotland Margaret McLellan Award to Professor Bob Steele, of the University’s Medical School. This prestigious award has been given for Professor Steele’s pioneering work in screening for bowel cancer, which is helping to reduce mortality rates in patients.
Later in the morning HRH The Princess Royal will move on to the College of Life Sciences at the University’s city campus. She will be given a tour of the laboratories there, including the Drug Discovery Unit, and will also be meeting researchers who are receiving funding from Tenovus, including Dr. John Rouse, recipient of the 2011 Tenovus Medal.
The medal is awarded annually to a scientist under the age of 40 with a Scottish link who has made a major impact in their field. The Tenovus Medal is intended to promote the brightest talent in Scotland.
During her visit, HRH The Princess Royal will be shown some of the cutting-edge technology for which the College of Life Sciences is renowned.
Professor Inke Nathke will demonstrate the capability of the College’s Light and Electron Microscopy suites including the OMX Microscope, one of only seven in the world and two in the UK. HRH The Princess Royal will also visit Professor Alan Fairlamb’s division, which specialises in research for Neglected Tropical Diseases, of particular scientific interest to the Princess, as President of Save the Children UK.
Among the other highlights during her visit, the Princess will meet scientists working in the state-of-the-art Screening Facility in the Drug Discovery Unit, which supports basic science research with industry standard capabilities.
HRH The Princess Royal will also meet Professors Daan van Aalten and Dario Alessi and Dr. Sonia Rocha all of whom have received Tenovus funding at various stages of their career and are now internationally acclaimed researchers in each of their respective fields.
For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
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