Dean's Update - 12 October
12 Oct 2017
Latest from Ian Greer
A few days ago I spoke at two key events at the Conservative Party Conference. I represented the Academy of Medical Sciences at a meeting chaired by Graeme Reid, Professor of Science and Research Policy at UCL, to discuss Government investment in research and innovation. The event was attended by more than 30 influential academic and political stakeholders including Universities Minister, Jo Johnson.
I also spoke at a meeting hosted by the Institute for Public Policy Research North to discuss the Northern Powerhouse and the implications for regional economic development and health. I focused on the UK’s health inequalities and discussed how our Faculty’s world-leading research in Population Health and Informatics is contributing to a better understanding of key issues.
Away from the conference, I was invited by the Head of the School of Biological Sciences, Professor Jane Worthington and Professor of Rheumatology, Ann Barton, to meet with the review panel from Arthritis Research UK, in relation to renewed funding for the ARUK Centre for Genetics and Genomics. Here I set out the opportunities in the Faculty for discovery and translational science and how this fits into the bigger picture, working not only with the NIHR BRC, but also Health Innovation Manchester (HInM) to create even greater impact. Arthritis research in the Faculty has received a further boost with the award of a Wellcome Senior Research Fellowship to Dr Gisela Orozco. This new funding will enable Gisela to continue her work studying the biological mechanisms that drive rheumatoid arthritis. You can read more about her award HERE.
Last week I also led a HInM workshop that explored the potential for developing an early detection and diagnostic dementia framework for the Greater Manchester region through industry collaborations. I’m pleased to report that we made good progress in agreeing some key principles that ultimately will help HInM achieve its vision of delivering a truly collaborative healthcare system that will offer new technologies, treatments and the best possible support to people living with dementia.
This morning I have been at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London, speaking at an international symposium on thrombosis and obstetrics - my own area of research - which was organised by the charity Thrombosis UK to support World Thrombosis Day; and coming up next week, I will be joining the University President, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, the Head of the School of Medical Sciences, Professor Peter Clayton, and Head of the Division of Medical Education, Doug Corfield, at the annual Doubleday Lecture, which will be delivered by the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham.
I would like to highlight some of the achievements of Faculty colleagues which feature elsewhere in this e-bulletin. Congratulations to Professor Ashley Woodcock, who has been invited to deliver the prestigious 2018 Samuel Gee Lecture at the Royal College of Physicians. I’d also like to draw your attention to the list of various prizes, awards and accolades presented during the 2016 - 2017 academic year that has been compiled in response to a request made by Senate to all three Faculties. The list includes a number of lifetime achievement awards, fellowships, research and teaching excellence awards, and even an OBE - a truly impressive roll of honour!