The TICR campaign is issuing a heart-felt plea for volunteers to help in the fight against Scotland's number one killer - cardiovascular disease.
Celebrations recently took place as TICR's first fundraising target of £1 million was reached, allowing work to begin on phase one of the project. The building of clinical research rooms at Ninewells Hospital which will allow interaction between research staff and patients is now underway and they will be ready for use by February 2003.
But another £2.5 million is still needed and TICR is asking big-hearted people across Scotland to help raise funds.
Professor Jill Belch, of the University's department of medicine and one of the main TICR figures said, "The ultimate goal of all the research TICR carries out is to slow, stop and reverse the scourge of cardiovascular disease in Scotland, which puts the nation at the top of the league in Western Europe for this type of illness.
"TICR isn't just a local initiative. One in three people in Scotland will suffer a major heart attack or cardiovascular complication in their lifetime so just about everyone in the country will be affected in some way, either directly or indirectly. We are relying on people to help us with fundraising for the institute which will bring together different research expertise under one roof - the work carried out by TICR could ultimately save their lives."
Once a further £1 million has been raised, work can begin on the main institute, which will house on one site six research groups who will co-ordinate their varied clinical and research skills - cardiology, stroke medicine, pharmacology, vascular surgery, epidemiology and nutrition. Another £1 million will buy state-of the-art equipment for TICR's research laboratories, while half a million will be used in recruiting top flight research specialists from around the world. Around 150 research staff will work for TICR.
Robert McLaren, chairman of the TICR fundraising committee said, "Every donation counts, regardless of its size. People who help TICR are making an investment in their future and the future of everyone in Scotland."
Fundraising ideas and suggestions are available from Heather Graeme at the TICR office. Heather can also supply collection cans. Telephone 01382 344821.
By Jane Smernicki, Press Officer 01382 344768 j.m.smernicki@dundee.ac.uk