23 May 2011

Scientists take on Ben Nevis for charity

Scientists from the University of Dundee will take on Britain’s highest peak later this year in an attempt to raise £5000 for Arthritis research.

Dr Simon Arthur and eight members of his research group, based at the University’s College of Life Sciences, will be joined by partners and friends when they set their sights on the summit of Ben Nevis on Saturday, 2nd July.

Post-doctoral research assistant Dr Vicky McGuire said the group had chosen to support Arthritis Research UK as much of their research relates to the regulation of inflammation, which in turn helps the understanding of the causes and pathology of inflammatory diseases including arthritis.

'We’re looking forward to the walk, but with a slight sense of trepidation,' she said. 'As a bunch of mostly novice walkers this is going to be something of a challenge - especially as walking up the 4 flights of stairs to the lab is normally enough to tire us out!

'We’d really appreciate support for this great cause, and to help fight a disease which affects so many people.'

The 15 fundraisers are Simon Arthur, Kirsty MacKenzie, Mirjam van den Bosch, Michael Pattison, Vicky McGuire, Suzy Elcombe, Julia Carr, Shaista Naqvi and Ram Venigalla from the Arthur Research Group plus Tom Houslay, Arij Verhoeff, Jill Spanjers, Kevin Palser, Mark Witherspoon and Emily Ashwell.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor Dr McGuire and her colleagues can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/arthur-lab.

More information about the Arthur Research Group can be found at www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk/research/?pid=3&sub1=research.

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
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