6 November 2008

The Robert Muir Lecture - Friday November 7th

Professor Andrew Wyllie, Head of the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge and a co-discoverer of the process of apoptosis (natural cell death), will deliver the Robert Muir Lecture at the University of Dundee tomorrow (Friday November 7th)

The Muir Lecture is a prestigious event hosted by the College of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing that commemorates Sir Robert Muir who was the first occupant of the Chair of Pathology in Dundee, appointed in 1898.

This year’s Muir lecture is timed to be part of National Pathology Week. Professor Wyllie will speak on ‘Cell death in living tissues; apoptosis re-examined’. Professor Wyllie was the co-discoverer of apoptosis in 1973. This cellular process is one of the most important biological discoveries of the last 40 years and has proved to be of fundamental importance throughout biology and medicine. In particular it is critical to our understanding of the growth and development of humans and the origins of cancer. Professor Wyllie is always an enthusiastic and entertaining lecturer.

The lecture takes place in Lecture Theatre 1 at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School tomorrow at 4pm. The event is sponsored by the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

NOTES TO EDITORS
Sir Robert Muir was the first occupant of the Chair of Pathology in Dundee, appointed in 1898.

He subsequently moved to Glasgow where he furthered his reputation as a diagnostic pathologist, researcher and teacher. He wrote the first comprehensive textbook of pathology in English ‘Muir’s Textbook of Pathology’ the 14th Edition of which was published earlier this year with major contributions from Dundee pathologists. Muir was also one of the founders of the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland in 1906 and the Society is this year a joint sponsor of the lecture.

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