Local Talent, Global Impact
The most recent in a series of 'Local Talent, Global Impact' events proved to be extremely popular, with around 300 people filling every seat in the large conference room at Riddel Hall. This evening of short presentations by four leading medical researchers allowed the public to hear first-hand about the ground-breaking work taking place at Queen’s and its impact on patient outcomes locally and globally.
Each of the four presenters spoke passionately and clearly about their own research work and how it is helping to improve outcomes for their patients:
Professor Joe O’Sullivan - 'Prostate Cancer - Cinderella No More'
Professor Danny McAuley - 'Finding New Treatments for Failing Lungs'
Professor Ian Young - 'Understanding Cholesterol: It's More than Just a Bad Diet'
Professor Usha Chakravarthy - 'Macular Degeneration: The Journey from Blighting Blindness to the Shoots of Sight'
Queen's Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Sir Peter Gregson, gave a warm welcome to all attending, outlining how Queen's is now taking this opportunity to share just a little about some of the world-class researchers we have working in Belfast. Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast make an enormous impact on the world in which we live. In particular, the research they conduct in the field of medicine has yielded tremendous results, from finding cures for diseases to helping form companies which provide vital healthcare goods and services.
Professor Patrick Johnston, Dean of the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, then spoke briefly to outline just a few of the main recent exciting developments within the School. For example a new cancer facility has been opened at Queens, featuring the first integrated laboratory of its kind in the UK and Ireland. Here solid tumour samples can be examined at a molecular level, leading to tailored individual treatments for patients. Also, Professor Johnston explained that the University has recently secured £32 million to establish a world-leading Centre for Experimental Medicine, a Centre which will help transform health care in Northern Ireland and beyond. The new Centre will specialise in scientific research into finding cures for eye disease, diabetes and developing a global programme into understanding the genetics of complex chronic diseases.
Professor Johnston introduced each speaker in turn and after all four speakers had finished, he chaired a very lively question and answer session, where guests took the opportunity to ask the speakers a wide range of questions.
Click on the links below to watch the talks alongside the speakers' slides.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Peter Gregson
Dean of the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Professor Patrick Johnston
Professor Joe O'Sullivan - prostate cancer
Professor Danny McAuley's - treatments for failing lungs
Professor Ian Young - understanding cholesterol
