08 June 2010

Duke in Sheffield to see progress on pioneering MND Centre

The Duke of Devonshire KCVO, CBE, DL visited the University of Sheffield on Thursday 27 May 2010 to take a tour of the Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience (SITRaN) building site, which is set to become a world centre for research into Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

The £18million research institute, which will be run by staff at the University of Sheffield, will bring together scientists and medical specialists from around the globe who will be dedicated to finding the causes and cure for MND, as well as other degenerative conditions affecting the motor system such as Parkinson's disease and Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

As the Honorary Patron of the Sheffield Institute Foundation for Motor Neurone Disease, which is raising funds for the new centre, the Duke wanted to view the progress of the building and show his support for the Institute.

The research facility, which was designed by architects Bond Bryan and constructed by ISG, will cover 2,800 m² over two floors and will include research labs, offices and a library.

During the visit the Duke met with Professor Pam Shaw, Head of Neuroscience at the University and an international expert in MND who will lead the team of staff at the new research institute. He was also taken on a tour of the site by Mike Woods, Project Manager from ISG.

Professor Pam Shaw said: "It has been a great honour to welcome the Duke of Devonshire to see the progress made on the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) building. We are very excited that the Institute will be complete within the next 3 months. We have already attracted some world class researchers to come and join our team and we are in the process of purchasing the cutting edge scientific equipment needed for our work. The support and enthusiasm of the Duke of Devonshire and the Patrons of the Sheffield Institute Foundation have been inspirational – without them we would never have realised this dream. I believe that the resources and momentum we have been able to assemble for the SITraN development will enable us to make a real difference to people and families facing MND and related conditions affecting the nervous system."

The Duke of Devonshire said: "The Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) will be a wonderful achievement for the University and city of Sheffield. I am very proud to be the Honorary Patron of the Sheffield Institute Foundation for Motor Neurone Disease which has played a key role, in partnership with the University, in making this project happen. Knowing that the SITRaN building will be completed within the next 3 months, I wanted to come and see for myself the progress that has been made.

"Professor Pam Shaw has assembled a world class team which has already made significant progress in understanding the causes of Motor Neurone Disease and in developing new treatments. The SITraN development will enable Sheffield to attract clinicians and scientists from round the world to join in the endeavour to find a cure for this devastating condition and related neurodegenerative disorders. I am very much looking forward to seeing Professor Shaw's team working together in the Institute and to hearing of the benefits for MND sufferers that will undoubtedly emerge from their work."