Institute of Genetic Medicine and the Faculty of Medical Sciences would like to invite members of the general public to attend a science packed day centred around the rare diseases and genetic research. Full program will be available shortly.

To register, please click here.

A new exciting initiative is being launched between the Faculties of Humanities and Medicine, to explore health-based narratives in books and film and to promote empathy and creativity in medical education. Come and join them for a week of film screenings and discussion that explores how movies and books can enrich our understanding of what it means to be human and how collaboration with the arts and humanities can broaden medical education.

Tickets are free to the members of University staff and to students. For more details and to register, please check: https://allevents.in/newcastle%20upon%20tyne/milan-film-festival/1511163225806308#

Sci-Screen is a programme of films being shown at Tyneside Cinema, shedding insights into the science behind popular film plots. The project was originally organised by Ideas Take Flight, Newcastle University’s regional campaign for gathering ideas, thoughts and questions from the public in order to help shape the British Science Festival 2013.

Each screening includes introductions to and discussions on relevant scientific ideas, delivered by the lecturer, scientist or researcher who selected that particular film.

The 2015 season of SciScreen will kick off with “The Diving Bell And The Butterfly” screening on 25th January 2015. The movie deals tells a story of a victim of a locked-in syndrome and will feature a talk from Dr Neil Archibald, a consultant neurologist, who will be discussing locked-in-syndrome which affected the main character.

For details and to book your tickets, please visit: https://www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/whats-on/films/view/sci-screen-the-diving-bell-and-the-butterfly

(from Newcastle University press office)

Newcastle University has announced the launch of the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre to support its world-leading research in the field.

Housing a team of 80 experts, led by Professors Kate Bushby, Volker Straub and Hanns Lochmüller, the research carried out in the Centre will focus on three key areas: the development of translational research, innovative clinical trials and international networking.

Professor Kate Bushby, Action Research Chair of Neuromuscular Genetics Newcastle University and co-ordinator of the European Joint Action on Rare Diseases, said: “One of the great strengths at the new research centre is the collaborative and multidisciplinary approach, both within the team and with other leading experts around the world. Genetic neuromuscular disease includes some very rare conditions and it is through establishing these partnerships that the biggest strides towards improving diagnosis, care and treatment for patients can be made.”

Professor Hanns Lochmüller adds: “The launch of the Centre represents more than 50 years of excellence in muscular dystrophy research and care at Newcastle University and in the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. As a leader in shaping the European muscle disease landscape, the Centre represents the cutting edge of research and is at the forefront of innovative therapy development.“

The Centre is being named in honour of former Dean of Medicine and distinguished neurologist, Lord John Walton. Along with Professor of Medicine Fred Nattrass in 1954 John Walton published a keynote paper in Brain on the differential diagnosis of muscular dystrophies. They were the first to combine detailed clinical and genetic data and were instrumental in early developments that led to the formation of the Muscular Dystrophy Group as an independent charity.

Professor Volker Straub comments: “We are delighted to recognise Lord Walton’s enormous contribution to the field of muscle disease research and patient care in the naming of our research centre and pleased that he is able to join us in the science, discussions and celebrations at the launch event.”

Professors Bushby, Lochmüller and Straub lead the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre and hold joint appointments between Newcastle University and the NHS. With over 115 publications in the last three years, their time is split between research and clinical commitments, both of which focus on neuromuscular disease, and they provide leadership across the Centre.

Prof Michael Briggs and Dr Michael Wright from the IGM helped sponsor and organise the 1st Newcastle Achondroplasia Symposium on 21-22 September, which saw members of The Restricted Growth Association, Child Growth Foundation, The Dwarf  Sports Association, The Little People of Ireland, Little People UK and Short Stature Scotland come together and agree to support clinicians who wish to improve the quality of healthcare services available to all people of restricted growth in the UK and Ireland.

Hundreds of people all over the country will be moving an extra special mile between 23 and 31 August to raise funds for vital research and support for families affected by muscle-wasting conditions. To join the exciting initiative, the IGM are busy organising a Charity Sports Day to be held from 11:30am on Friday 29thAugust in Times Square, Centre for Life.

What is a Science Collider?

• The Science Collider is a 24 hour hack event during which participants form teams to experiment, improvise, create and play with data.
• We are inviting scientists to bring data, hypotheses, concepts and images, and use these to create exciting, fun and engaging projects for public outreach.
• We want to attract the existing programming and design audience, but also encourage a mix of other disciplines to attend; specifically scientific researchers, statisticians, artists, and makers -to ensure that the projects that emerge from the event are as diverse as possible.
• The aim of the event is to promote the idea of Open Science and to make the research being undertaken in Newcastle more opaque and captivating to the wider community, by presenting it in accessible way. By encouraging attendees to work in a variety of media, we hope there will be something that will appeal to everyone. We are also keen to encourage inter-disciplinary introductions between people for future collaborations.
• Participants will be guided towards the development of a presentable prototype. This might be an app, data interface, interactive data visualisation, poster, physical artwork or game – anything goes, we just want projects to be as creative as possible.
• Previous events have been fun and informal, and although this event is sponsored, all IP is owned by participants.

What will participants get out of attending?

• Discovering new ideas: A hack day incentivises the generation of spontaneous ideas. The limited timescale encourages quick thinking, impulsive problem solving, and working together for inspiration.
• Morale boosting and team work: Participants develop something novel, doing something outside of their normal work. They also get to collaborate with people they may not normally interact with, increasing paths of communication.
• A learning experience: By working together in teams containing members with diverse experience and knowledge, we hope that everyone who participates will leave the event with new skills. By holding lightening talks and mini workshops we hope that participants will be able to learn about the design process from a varied set of experienced professionals. We are also holding workshops and lightning talks.
• A fun and memorable weekend: Hack days are fast paced and fun, with a vibrant and social atmosphere. Although small groups form to work on individual projects, by the end of the event everyone feels like part of one big team. There is a shared sense of achievement in having developed ideas into prototypes in such a short time. The enthusiasm, feedback and prizes make for a very rewarding experience.

Why provide data for the event?

• We’re seeking researchers who would like to contribute science and engineering data for the teams to use as the basis for their projects.
• Data may take any form – tables of numbers, images, narratives, sounds, etc. – we’re seeking variety to inspire people with!
• Some of the most interesting projects arise from mixing data sets together – for example, if your tabulated data contains locations or ages, these can be paired with data from other domains, to augment and explore.
• We’re particularly keen to include as much data as possible relating to our region, and the research done here.
• These collaborations open up possibilities to share tools, knowledge, and ways of thinking – forming new types of project and problem solving. We hope participants will spin your data in a thought-provoking direction. After the event, teams may wish to work with you to continue developing the projects.
• We’ll also be organising an exhibition of the prototypes – to give your research an opportunity for public appreciation.

What we have already
Some of the data we have already include:

• CRUK statistics
• Cancer Research data – images with linked hypothesis and sequencing data
• Time-lapse movies of cell cycle components with related hypothesis
• Quantified health data (data derived from wearable health devices)

Interested?
Please make initial contact as soon as possible, so that we can work with you! We can guide on data format, and work with you to make it accessible for our participants. We’d strongly encourage your attendance at the event, to present the background to your data to the participants, and be available for questions and mentoring (you may, of course, also take part!)

To provide data, contact: Ashleigh.herriott@ncl.ac.uk
To join the mailing list, visit: http://eepurl.com/zlGI1
For tickets, visit: www.iodatalabs.com

IGM scientists from Prof Mike Briggs‘s and Dr Kasia Pirog‘s groups are taking part in the Arthritis Awareness Day at the Baddiley-Clark building at Newcastle University on Thursday 26th June 2014. The day is aimed primarily at patients and members of the public, in order to raise awareness of arthritis and musculoskeletal research at Newcastle University amongst the patient groups in the North East and to facilitate the engagement and involvement of patients in the future research activities and projects.

Please note that the registration for this event is now closed. If your school would like to participate in a similar event at a later date, please email: IGMengagement@ncl.ac.uk. Thank you!