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Liverpool medic to investigate rare but serious childhood disease
A LIVERPOOL
medic is hoping to find out more about the development of a rare but
serious disease that can have a devastating effect on young
sufferers - in order to come up with better treatment.
Childhood lupus (also known as juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus)
is an auto-immune disease that can affect the joints, skin, muscles,
blood vessels and internal organs and can have a huge impact on a
child's health as well as growth, psychological well-being and
learning through into adulthood. It is a life-long and
life-threatening disease. Some 20% of people develop it in
childhood. Although lupus can occur at any age and affects
many adults, particularly women, it is often more severe in
children.
Now Dr Zoë McLaren, a specialist registrar in rheumatology in
Liverpool, has been awarded a 1-year Barbara Ansell Fellowship of
£53,500 by medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign
to investigate the cause of childhood lupus. The study will take
place at the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, Alder Hey, and the
Institute of Child Health, University of Liverpool.
"Treatment is available for the condition but there is no
cure, and we don't fully understand what causes lupus,"
explained Dr McLaren. "A number of factors are important -
genetics, infections, hormones and environmental influences. We know
a little from studies in adults but the disease in children appears
to be different in many ways. By examining the differences between
adults and children we hope to understand more about the
abnormalities of the immune system in this serious condition."
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means the immune system,
especially white blood cells, is affected and ends up attacking the
body's own cells, causing disease and organ damage.
Dr McLaren will be studying the role of important white blood cells
called neutrophils to find out what part they play in the
development of lupus. Her research is part of a larger study being
conducted by her supervisor Dr Michael Beresford who is setting up a
nationwide database of childhood lupus patients, who will provide
samples of DNA to be used for research purposes.
The Arthritis Research Campaign is the 4th-largest medical research
charity in the UK, and funds research into all types of arthritis
and musculoskeletal conditions. It currently funds almost £1m of
research in Liverpool. The Barbara Ansell Fellowship was set up to
commemorate the late Dr Ansell, a leading paediatric rheumatologist,
who left a large bequest to the charity to encourage research into
childhood types of arthritis. |
Bill Shankly to be star attraction on union heritage trail?
FORMER
Liverpool FC manager Bill Shankly will be one of the attractions on
a union heritage trail being devised as part of Liverpool’s European
Capital of Culture year 2008. The Liverpool great, who died in
1981, is one of the city’s most famous names being considered for
the trail, which will take in prominent places and landmarks in the
city’s union history. As a firm believer in the trade union
movement, the Scottish footballing hero is one of the first
pencilled in as plans for the trail take shape.
Liverpool-born trade unionist Jack Jones and figures from the city’s
musical and seafaring past are being discussed as possible subjects
for the trail by its organisers, who include the TUC, individual
unions and artists. An exhibition would be held to feature further
details about the people and issues highlighted by the trail.
The trail has been devised as the TUC draws up its Arts and Cultural
Strategy. This will be finalised in time for Liverpool’s year as
Capital of Culture.
Other plans for Liverpool ’08 being drawn up by the TUC include:
A photograph and
short film competition for young people to enter using their mobile
phones or disposable cameras. The entries will be exhibited in a
gallery and on a website.
A live performance piece created by artists from the UK, Denmark,
Sweden, Finland and Germany. The piece, called “@ work’’
would be about work and modern-day issues such as migrant workers.
Proposals to commission a professional photographer to capture on
film what happens 'behind the scenes' for those working in
Merseyside’s museums, theatres and arts venues.
Although this work is set to be completed for Liverpool’s year as
Capital of Culture, the TUC’s Arts and Cultural Strategy will be a
national project.
The strategy is intended to promote closer links between trade
unions and artistic communities. It will examine how Lottery funding
can be obtained for future collaborations between the TUC and the
arts, including other events for Liverpool ’08.
TUC Regional Secretary, Alan Manning said:- “We want to
celebrate working people and the trade union contribution to life
and culture in Liverpool and the events that are being planned for
Liverpool are being seen as the crucial first stages in the
development of the national strategy.”
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