Child kidney medics join 50-year city celebrations
HUNDREDS of experts working to help children with kidney disease have travelled to Glasgow for a conference to mark a special anniversary.
The European Society for Paediatric Nephrology, which promotes teaching and research into the condition, held its first meeting in the city 50 years ago.
It is back for the first time in half a century for a four-day conference attended by more t han 800 delegates.
The event in the Scottish Event Campus involves state of the art lec- tures and technical masterclasses.
To coincide with Organ Donation Week, ESPN is working with Organ Transplantation Scotland to encourage the public to find out more about living donation.
Medical experts and local renal patients and their families will be on hand today to chat to people between noon and 4pm in the St Enoch Centre.
There will also be a five kilometre fun-run around the city organised by Kidney Research UK.
Dr Heather Maxwell, consultant paediatric nephrologist at the Royal Hospital for Children, said: “The return of the ESPN to Glasgow highlights the historical medical breakthroughs which have taken place in the city and its continued reputation as a world leading hub for innovation in the medical and life sciences sector.
“In 1917, the first renal biopsy was performed on a child with nephrotic syndrome at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children and in 1950, Professor Gavin Arneil established the UK’s first regional referral unit for children with renal disease at this same hospital. It was one of the first units in Europe.”
Glasgow Life chairman David McDonald said medical and life sciences association who choose the city as their base can benefit from collaboration between the NHS, academics and research hubs.
He added: “Collectively, they have maintained the city’s world leading position in the field of medical research and practice.”