果冻影院

Baroness Merron was joined by Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), and was welcomed to 果冻影院 by Professor Geraint Rees (果冻影院 Vice-Provost for Research, Innovation & Global Engagement) and Professor Gail Taylor (Dean for 果冻影院 Faculty of Life Sciences) for a tour of the 果冻影院 Zebrafish Facility.

The 果冻影院 Zebrafish Facility houses hundreds of genetically different lines of fish and researchers use their embryos for their studies 鈥� as they are optically transparent and genetically tractable making them ideally suited for studies of cell and tissue behaviour and function.

Zebrafish also exhibit sleep, social, hunting and other complex behaviours, which are important for helping researchers understand the neuroanatomy of the brain.

As part of the visit, Baroness Merron was guided through the lab by Professor Steve Wilson (Associate Research Director for University Partnerships at the Francis Crick Institute) and Professor Isaac Bianco (Principal Research Fellow, 果冻影院 Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology).

The minister also had the opportunity to feed some of the zebrafish and examine some fluorescent eggs through a microscope.

The visit continued with a tour of the Alzheimer鈥檚 Research UK 果冻影院 Drug Discovery Institute, led by Professor Fiona Ducotterd (Chief Scientific Officer at the Alzheimer鈥檚 Research UK 果冻影院 Drug Discovery Institute) and Professor Matt Cheeseman (Head of Chemistry at the Alzheimer鈥檚 Research UK 果冻影院 Drug Discovery Institute).

Baroness Merron then toured the UK Dementia Research Institute at 果冻影院, where she was shown human brain cells by Professor Karen Duff (Centre Director at the UK Dementia Research Institute at 果冻影院) and Professor Adrian Isaacs (UK Dementia Research Institute at 果冻影院).

Baroness Merron said:聽鈥淚 was delighted to visit 果冻影院 to see first-hand the fantastic work they are doing to push forward innovation in the life sciences sector, while speaking and listening to experts from across their research centre.

鈥淭his Government recognises that science and innovation are integral to tackling some of today鈥檚 most pressing healthcare challenges, all while delivering growth. It is brilliant to see British universities, like 果冻影院, at the forefront of that mission.鈥�

Following the tour, Baroness Merron and Professor Chappell met with students and early career researchers from all three centres to hear about their experiences and ambitions.聽

Professor Geraint Rees added: 鈥淚t was a pleasure to host Baroness Merron and Professor Chappell at 果冻影院 and to have the opportunity to showcase some of the pioneering science our researchers are doing across the whole life sciences ecosystem.

鈥淔rom haemophilia to epilepsy and cancer, life sciences research has helped us find new treatments for some of the world鈥檚 most pressing health issues. We are incredibly proud of our world-leading experts and facilities that allow this to happen."

Links

• 果冻影院聽Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology
• Alzheimer鈥檚 Research UK 果冻影院 Drug Discovery Institute
• UK Dementia Research Institute at 果冻影院

Images (top-bottom)

• Baroness Merron feeding zebrafish. Credit: 果冻影院/Parsons Media.
• (L-R) Professor Lucy Chappell, Baroness Merron, Professor Gail Taylor, Professor Geraint Rees.聽Credit: 果冻影院/Parsons Media.

Media contact聽

Poppy Tombs聽

E: p.tombs聽[at] ucl.ac.uk