Medical research showcase

PUPILS from across Tayside and Fife visited Dundee Science Centre to learn about the diverse range of medical research being carried out in Scotland.

Malaria, osteoporosis, cancer, lung and kidney disease were just some of the areas of pioneering medical research carried out in Scotland that were highlighted by the 2017 Meet the Researcher Showcase.

Pupils and teachers heard careers talks from Professor David Harrison, John Reid, chairman of pathology at St Andrews University, and Dr Morag McFarlane, chief executive of Tissue Solutions Ltd.

Pupils had the opportunity to meet a group of 21 Medical Research Scotland-funded undergraduate and postgraduate researchers and their supervisors from universities across Scotland.

Research topics included how exercise affects the body clock, whether deep sea bacteria can fight cancer, and the potential of fatty acids as a treatment for spinal cord injury.

Professor Philip Winn, chairman of Medical Research Scotland, said: “The Meet the Researcher Showcase aims to inspire and inform pupils about the wealth of careers linked to medical research.

“The medicines, medical devices and diagnostic tools used i n medical practice — as well as the basic biological understanding of diseases — require a huge amount of skill, expertise and effort before anything reaches medical practice.”