29 April 2013

Clinical Research Centre to open its doors to the public

The leading-edge facilities and groundbreaking work carried out at Tayside's Clinical Research Centre will go on show to the public next month when the £13 million facility hosts an open day.

Visitors will be able to visit the custom-built, state-of-the-art facilities on Monday, 20th May to see how clinical research helps improve health and leads to better medicines and treatments. They will be able to speak to staff, learn more about clinical research, and take part in a range of health checks including blood pressure and BMI measuring.

The open day takes place at the CRC, which was developed by the University of Dundee in collaboration with NHS Tayside, between 10am and 3.30pm.

The CRC is just one of the research facilities across the UK opening their doors to the public as part of 'International Clinical Trials Day'. This event will be celebrated across the world in order to raise awareness of the importance of research to healthcare and commemorates the first ever 'controlled' trial by Scottish Physician James Lind with his experiment in the treatment of scurvy amongst sailors in 1747.

CRC Deputy Director Lesley Peebles said, "We want to raise awareness of clinical research in Tayside by highlighting some of the excellent studies that are being led and conducted by the University of Dundee and NHS Tayside.

"This research is only made possible by patients and the public becoming involved, working in partnership with healthcare professionals and researchers. This event provides the opportunity for people to come along and see and hear about some of the work that goes on, meet the staff involved and take part in our interactive stands.

"We urge anyone to drop in and chat with our friendly clinical research staff about how we can all get involved in helping shape the treatments of tomorrow."

The Clinical Research Centre, situated adjacent to Ninewells Hospital, was officially opened in 2008 and acts as the hub for clinical trial activity for Tayside Medical Science Centre. It links to satellite units elsewhere in Tayside and Fife and aims to carry out studies across a wide range of clinical specialities in order to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatments for debilitating and potentially fatal diseases.

Professor Jill Belch, co-director of the University's Medical Research Institute, said, "Tayside, along with partners in Fife and Forth Valley carry out nearly a quarter of all clinical research taking place in Scotland.

"This results in new treatments being brought to the community, and the Clinical Research Centre makes a significant contribution to this. We are grateful to the patients of Tayside for their support, and hopefully this open day will allow more understanding of the key role they play."

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