Experts from around the world will gather at the University of Glasgow for the inaugural Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (MVLS) lecture series which begins on Wednesday 5 June.

Professors Rhian Touyz and Andrew Biankin will present lectures addressing the societal and health burdens caused by hypertension and pancreatic cancer and discuss important future research targets. 

  • Professor Touyz, Director of the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, will deliver a lecture entitled: ‘Vascular Biology of Hypertension’.
  • Professor Biankin, Regius Professor of Surgery and Director of the Translational Cancer Research Centre, will deliver a lecture entitled: ‘Clinical and Translations Genomics’.

The event will be chaired by Professor Anna Dominiczak, Head of the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, and Professor Jeff Evans, Director of the Institute of Cancer Sciences, at the University of Glasgow.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and the leading cause of disease and mortality in the UK. It is predicted that the prevalence of hypertension will increase by around 60% over the next 20 years, which placing an ever greater burden on the National Health Service.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest cancers to treat has one of the lowest survival rates, with only 3% of people diagnosed surviving five years or longer.

Professors Touyz and Biankin are recent appointments to the University of Glasgow, having been recruited specifically to develop research expertise in their respective areas.

Professor Touyz said: “I am very pleased that the first MVLS lectures are focussing on the crucial issue of hypertension and the translational and clinical opportunities and challenges that surrounding it.

“Our innovative and collaborative work in this area has already seen great advances in our understanding of the condition and we hope that further discussion will help us down the road to identifying new disease-specific molecular targets and developing new therapies to improve the management of what is currently one of the UK’s biggest health risks.”

Professor Biankin said: “Modern genomic sequencing technologies are paving the way for a new era in medicine. The current unprecedented ability to decipher the genetic code of individuals and the cancers they develop allows us to “personalize” treatment options. Matching the right treatment to the right patient at the right time has clear patient and health economic benefits.

“Our efforts in cancer sequencing have provided the opportunity to map out the underlying genetic events that cause cancers to develop and progress, to begin to guide treatment and improve outcomes.”

For more information please contact the University of Glasgow’s Media Relations Office: nick.wade@glasgow.ac.uk / 01413307126.

Details of the event can be found at http://www.gla.ac.uk/events/lectures/?action=details&id=6444

First published: 4 June 2013

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