Government minister visits UCL to explore life sciences research

Baroness Merron was joined by Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), and was welcomed to UCL by Professor Geraint Rees (UCL Vice-Provost for Research, Innovation & Global Engagement) and Professor Gail Taylor (Dean for UCL Faculty of Life Sciences) for a tour of the UCL Zebrafish Facility.

The UCL Zebrafish Facility houses hundreds of genetically different lines of fish and researchers use their embryos for their studies – as they are optically transparent and genetically tractable making them ideally suited for studies of cell and tissue behaviour and function.

Zebrafish also exhibit sleep, social, hunting and other complex behaviours, which are important for helping researchers understand the neuroanatomy of the brain.

As part of the visit, Baroness Merron was guided through the lab by Professor Steve Wilson (Professor of Developmental Biology, UCL Cell & Developmental Biology, and Associate Research Director for University Partnerships at the Francis Crick Institute) and Professor Isaac Bianco (Principal Research Fellow, UCL Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology).

The minister also had the opportunity to feed some of the zebrafish and examine some fluorescent eggs through a microscope.

The visit continued with a tour of the Alzheimer’s Research UK UCL Drug Discovery Institute, led by Professor Fiona Ducotterd (Chief Scientific Officer at the Alzheimer’s Research UK UCL Drug Discovery Institute) and Professor Matt Cheeseman (Head of Chemistry at the Alzheimer’s Research UK UCL Drug Discovery Institute).

Baroness Merron then toured the UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, where she was shown human brain cells by Professor Karen Duff (Centre Director at the UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL) and Professor Adrian Isaacs (UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL).

Baroness Merron said: “I was delighted to visit UCL to see first-hand the fantastic work they are doing to push forward innovation in the life sciences sector, while speaking and listening to experts from across their research centre.

“This Government recognises that science and innovation are integral to tackling some of today’s most pressing healthcare challenges, all while delivering growth. It is brilliant to see British universities, like UCL, at the forefront of that mission.”

Following the tour, Baroness Merron and Professor Chappell met with students and early career researchers from all three centres to hear about their experiences and ambitions. 

Professor Geraint Rees added: “It was a pleasure to host Baroness Merron and Professor Chappell at UCL and to have the opportunity to showcase some of the pioneering science our researchers are doing across the whole life sciences ecosystem.

“From haemophilia to epilepsy and cancer, life sciences research has helped us find new treatments for some of the world’s most pressing health issues. We are incredibly proud of our world-leading experts and facilities that allow this to happen."

Links

• Professor Geraint Rees's academic profile
• Professor Gail Taylor's academic profile
• Professor Steve Wilson's academic profile
• Professor Isaac Bianco's academic profile
• Professor Fiona Ducotterd's academic profile
• Professor Matt Cheeseman's academic profile
• Professor Karen Duff's academic profile
• Professor Adrian Isaac's academic profile
• UCL Zebrafish facility
• UCL Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology
• Alzheimer’s Research UK UCL Drug Discovery Institute
• UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL

Images (top-bottom)

• Baroness Merron feeding zebrafish. Credit: UCL/Parsons Media.
• (L-R) Professor Lucy Chappell, Baroness Merron, Professor Gail Taylor, Professor Geraint Rees. Credit: UCL/Parsons Media.

Media contact 

Poppy Tombs 

E: p.tombs [at] ucl.ac.uk