The School of Life Sciences will hold a formal service of remembrance on Tuesday 25 October to honour the memory of the members of the public who have bequeathed their bodies to medical and scientific research at the University.

The service will begin at 6.00pm in the University Chapel and is open to the friends and families of donors, although seating is limited.

The service will honour the memory of the 87 people who left their bodies to the School of Life Science at the University over the last year where they have provided an invaluable resource for the education of students of the life sciences. This is the first year that the University of Glasgow has held a memorial service for donors.

The teaching of human anatomy at the University of Glasgow currently benefits from one of the largest body donation programmes in the United Kingdom. This generosity enables the College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences to offer an expanding range of educational provision and clinical training. The success of the body donation programme also offers significant research opportunities in basic, applied and clinical anatomy.

The service will supplement existing memorial arrangements organised by the University. The School intends that the memorial service will become an annual event that will provide an opportunity for staff and students to pay public tribute to the generosity of donors, and enable relatives to learn how anatomical donation is invaluable to the teaching, training and research that happening within the University.

Dr Rob Aitken, Head of the School of Life Sciences said: “We hope that the family and friends of our donors get comfort from the work that we do and that the service will provide an opportunity for them to learn more about the work going on at Glasgow. It also gives the University community a chance to pay thanks for the indispensible contribution made by these individuals.”

Unfortunately, due to high demand, seating is limited for the service; if you'd like to attend please contact Ann Marie Mellish on 0141 330 4296 or annmarie.mellish@glasgow.ac.uk.

Further details about anatomy in the College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences are available at: http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/lifesciences/aboutus/thelaboratoryofhumananatomy/

First published: 18 October 2011

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