19 June 2007

Thousands raised for Diabetes Research in Perth

*** Photo opportunity - 9.30 am, Wednesday June 20th,
Perth Royal Infirmary, main entrance.

George Donald to present cheque for £7355, proceeds of Perth fundraising concert, to Michael Archibald, chairman of the Diabetes Research Campaign.

George Donald, one of the stars of a major fundraising concert for diabetes research staged at Perth Concert Hall in April, will present a cheque for the proceeds to Michael Archibald, chairman of the University of Dundee’s Diabetes Research Campaign, at Perth Royal Infirmary on Wednesday June 20th.

The fundraising concert in Perth Concert Hall on April 14th raised £7355 towards the campaign. George Donald, musical director of the hugely popular ‘Scotland the What’ revue, and virtuoso fiddle player Paul Anderson combined to give an audience of over 600 people a fantastic night of traditional Scottish music.

"We must say a big thank you to all of those who came along to the concert and made it such a fantastic event," said Mr Archibald, who is himself diabetic.

"The campaign will make a real impact on diabetes research in Perth & Kinross and build on the excellent work being carried out by the University, which has become an internationally recognised centre of excellence in diabetes research."

"With patient research facilities in Perth, we can ensure patients in the area have access to cutting edge research conducted by some of the world’s best doctors and scientists."

The Diabetes Research Campaign was launched last year to raise £3million to support research into diabetes at the University of Dundee, including the establishment of state-of-the-art outpatient clinical research facilities in Angus, Perth and Dundee, enabling scientists and doctors to work together to undertake research from "the cell to the community".

In Perth this will mean new research facilities at Perth Royal Infirmary.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Diabetes Research Campaign was launched last year with `People’s Launches' in Perth, Angus and Dundee.

The goal of the campaign is to raise £3million over two years and will support three major initiatives:

• State-of-the-art outpatient clinical research facilities in Angus, Perth and Dundee, enabling scientists and doctors to work together to undertake research from 'the cell to the community'.
• An extension of dedicated diabetes laboratories at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School which will strengthen clinical research in Perth and Angus by enabling teams to link research and patient care together.
• Clinical research equipment and recruitment of an international researcher to lead research into Type 1 diabetes, complementing much of the work already being done at the University.

Dundee has been hailed as 'a world-leading centre' for research into diabetes by Douglas Smallwood, chief executive of Diabetes UK. Diabetes UK are a major funder of diabetes research at the University, directing over 90% of its Scottish research funding to Dundee.

The Dundee Diabetes Research Centre is a joint venture between the College of Life Sciences and the College of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, currently hosting 27 research teams that have a shared interest in diabetes research, ranging from the study of single molecules to complex clinical studies. Professor Dario Alessi, diabetes researcher in the MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit at the School of Life Sciences, is Director of the Diabetes Research Centre.

The Medical School, in collaboration with NHS Tayside, hosts the £2 million development of SCI-DC, the national diabetes computing system for Scotland. The cardiovascular implications of diabetes are being explored in collaboration with The Institute of Cardiovascular Research, also based at Ninewells Hospital

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