Football rivals sign up for ‘medicines of the future’
Hibs and Hearts managers pledge support to unique research initiative
Football manager Craig Levein has become the 250,000th volunteer to join a Scotlandwide effort to help shape the medicines of the future.
Levein, manager of Heart of Midlothian and former boss of the Scotland national team, signed up for Share (the Scottish Health Research Register) ahead of today’s Edinburgh derby match with Hibernian.
He was immediately followed by Paul Heckingbottom, his opposite number at rivals Hibs.
Share is a unique initiative which aims to make it easier for researchers to identify suitable recruits from Scotland to carry out groundbreaking medical research.
It also uses blood left over from routine testing to help improve treatments for diseases including cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and asthma.
Levein said: “I am delighted to be part of this pioneering health initiative. It is important that everyone gets an opportunity to help medical research and support the great efforts that are being made to find new treatments for patients.
“I had a health scare of my own last year [he had a heart attack in August] and am tremendously grateful for the care I received, and the work that researchers are doing to improve the lives of patients.
“Anything that can help those efforts is something I am willing to support, and this is an easy and straightforward way of providing help.
“It only takes a minute to sign up and I would encourage everyone to join me in doing this.”
Heckingbottom added: “Getting agreement from the bosses at Hibernian and Hearts, particularly around the time of a derby game, may be difficult on many issues but I think we are agreed this is a great idea which can help medical research. I am delighted to add my name to this and would encourage our fans to give Share their support.”
Share is pioneering an easy way for people to help the fight against disease.
Colin Palmer, professor of pharmacogenomics at the University of Dundee, said: “To really maximise the benefits of this research and help transform the personalisation of healthcare, we need to study really large samples, so it is vital we find new and simple ways for people to help.”