Malcolm Wright, Chief Executive of NHS Education for Scotland, opened the new Jim Rennie Suite at Glasgow Dental Hospital and School on 23 October 2014. The suite contains a Clinical Research Facility and a Life-support Training Facility in space that was a former Clinical Techniques Laboratory. The decision to name the suite after Jim Rennie was taken in recognition of his service to the Dental School as a Senior Lecturer in Oral Pathology and of his subsequent exceptional contributions to dentistry in Scotland over many years in his role as Postgraduate Dental Dean. Jim attended the opening with his sons Gavin and David.

The CRF, which received significant funding from the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Research & Development and Oral Health Directorates, provides an outstanding resource for the Infection & Immunity and Community Oral Health Research Groups. It is sited on the same floor as the recently refurbished Restorative Dentistry Clinics, which incorporate a surgical suite, and is also close to the biomedical laboratories for rapid processing of biological samples. Recent agreement through the SG CSO that a full-time research dental nurse and half-time research hygienist / therapist will be provided for a trial period of two years (matched by similar posts at Dundee Dental School) will deliver significant added value.

The Life Support Training Facility replaces the former cramped accommodation with a spacious, custom designed area that incorporates a computerised manikin and state of the art IT equipment. It is already in use delivering training for undergraduate and postgraduate students, vocational trainees and dental care professionals.

First published: 10 November 2014

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