28 June 2010
'Brain Tissue Donation - a unique gift essential for neuroscience research?' - public lecture 29/06/10
The need for brain tissue donors will be examined when the Universities of Dundee and St Andrews this week host the Summer meeting of the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
The event is the biggest annual conference of research into the understanding of disease mechanisms to take place in the UK and Ireland. This year’s meeting is jointly hosted by Dundee’s Centre for Oncology and Molecular Medicine, and the Bute Medical School in St Andrews.
The three-day conference takes place from Tuesday, June 29th to Thursday, July 1st, with a full scientific programme planned for delegates from the society. In addition, a public lecture will be given by Professor James Ironside CBE, President of the British Neuropathological Society and Director of the MRC Network of UK Brain Banks.
Professor Ironside, a graduate of the University of Dundee, will discuss 'Brain Tissue Donation - a unique gift essential for neuroscience research?' at Lecture Theatre A, North Haugh, University of St Andrews from 5.30pm on Tuesday, July 29th
He explained that the need for neuroscience research has never been greater.
'Brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are becoming increasingly common as the UK population ages, yet no truly effective treatments exist,' he said. 'Other disorders of the brain, such as autism and schizophrenia, remain poorly understood.
'Although it is possible to study aspects of these complex diseases in model systems, human brain tissue samples are required by researchers to improve our understanding of these diseases and develop new approaches to treatment.
'Tissue samples from patients need to be matched by a much larger range of normal samples than is currently available. A shortage of normal samples to use as controls has been identified as a major obstacle to research in this field.
'In order to address these difficulties, the Medical Research Council has formed a Network of Brain Banks in the UK, of which I am the Director. The Network will promote brain tissue donation for this vital research and will ensure the best use of donated tissues, including both disease and control samples.'
Professor Ironside began his career at Ninewells Hospital and has been involved in research on the pathology of brain tumours and neurodegenerative diseases for over 25 years.
He is currently Professor of Clinical Neuropathology in the University of Edinburgh, Director of Laboratories in the National CJD Surveillance Unit, President of the British Neuropathological Society and Director of the MRC Network of UK Brain Banks.
His current research interests include the tissue distribution of infectivity in CJD, the development of enhanced detection techniques for prions, and the neuropathology of paediatric brain tumours. Professor Ironside was made a Commander of the British Empire in 2006 for Services to Medicine and Healthcare.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
