‘Life and healthcare in the era of cures’ – Monday, 19th October
Published On Tue 13 Oct 2015 by Grant Hill
The hope that scientific breakthroughs offer to sufferers of diseases and the challenging questions they raise will be explored at the University of Dundee next week.
Professor Patrick Vallance, Research and Development lead at GlaxoSmithKline, will deliver this year’s Dow Memorial Lecture 2015 at the Dalhousie Building, Old Hawkhill, on Monday, 19th October.
‘Life and healthcare in the era of cures’ will see Professor Vallance highlight the scientific opportunities that research promises as well as the philosophical, ethical and economic questions that society and government must face when the prize is much greater.
He said, “How many diseases can we cure rather than treat? The answer is, not many. By the end of the century will we be able to cure more? If we can, is society prepared to discuss how that is valued, who has access to cures and who should pay for restorative health?
“Science is evolving and is offering glimpses of cures in hard-to-treat diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis, some cancers and rare diseases. These will not come without challenging the types of medicines we make and how they are developed.”
Professor Vallance joined GlaxoSmithKline in May 2006 as Head of Drug Discovery and has since been promoted to President of Pharmaceuticals R&D. Prior to joining GSK he was a clinical academic and led the Division of Medicine at University College London.
He has over 20 years’ experience of clinical medicine, general internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine and clinical pharmacology. He was elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences in 1999 and subsequently became its Registrar before he joined GSK.
The lecture is held of memory of Professor David Dow and his wife Dr Agnes Dow, both of whom received their medical training in Dundee before going on to assist in the education and training of students.
The Dow Memorial Trust Fund was established upon the death of Agnes in 1998 and aims to keep alive the memory of two stalwart supporters of education in Dundee.
This lecture will take place in the Dalhousie Building, Old Hawkhill, on Monday, 19th October from 6-7pm.
Tickets are free but must be booked from http://www.dundee.ac.uk/events/2015/151019-life-and-healthcare---dow-lecture.php. A drinks reception follows this event.
More information is available by calling01382 385108/388154 or emailing events@dundee.ac.uk.
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