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Spring 2007 Newsletter
Professor George Duncan (1943-2007)
It is with the greatest sadness that we have to report the death of Professor George Duncan. George never missed an opportunity to meet our supporters and many of you will have had the pleasure of knowing him personally. George has played a major role in the success of The Trust over many years, both directly by his scientific work, and as a friend always ready to be helpful in any way he could. He was a great team man and built a world-class group which continues his work. Everyone connected with The Trust sends their deepest condolences to Maggie and the family, and our thanks for requesting that donations in lieu of flowers be sent to The Trust. A Memorial Service will be held for George at Norwich Cathedral on the 6th July. Dr Michael Wormstone, a long time colleague of George and incumbent of a Humane Research Trust Fellowship, has kindly written the following obituary. ‘It is with deep sadness that I have to write the following words. Professor George Duncan, head of the Norwich Eye Research Group, died suddenly at his home on 17th January this year. George was born in Peterhead, Scotland on 11th January 1943. He studied for his first degree in Natural Philosophy (Physics) at the University of Aberdeen, graduating in 1965. He then moved to the University of East Anglia to take the MSc in Biophysics, which was followed by a PhD programme on ion transport in the lens of the eye. His passion for eye research had begun and it would remain throughout his life. Following brief sojourns in Nijmegen and Naples, George returned to the University of East Anglia to take up a lectureship in the School of Biological Sciences where he remained for the rest of his career. He was elected to the Chair of Biomedicine in 1998. Throughout his research career George Duncan was a pioneer of the use of human models to understand human disease. His collaboration with the local hospital was vital for establishing the East Anglian Eye Bank permitting ground-breaking research on human eye tissue. For most of his career, his research was focussed on the causes and treatments of human cataracts and the laboratory became world renowned for its work. The contribution of The Humane Research Trust played an important role in this success and George was particularly honoured when his outstanding achievements were recognised by the receipt of the Monica Lumsden Award. George was a giant of lens research and his eminent status was also recognised by the Ida Mann Medal for work in ophthalmology; by his election to the council of The International Society for Eye Research; and most recently his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. He also had strong collaborative links with laboratories in the USA, Netherlands, Germany, Australia and China not to mention the UK, including his native Scotland. George was an inspiring and enthusiastic lecturer who could convey any topic with verve, enthusiasm and lucidity. He was in his element lecturing to students, his peers or a lay audience. George did not simply give a presentation; he put on a show which always left you informed and smiling. The School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia has also provided a lasting tribute in naming the new state-of the-art teaching laboratory in his honour. George married his beloved wife Maggie in 1967, the start of a long and happy marriage. George was a consummate family man and was immensely proud of their children Hamish and Anna and their grandchildren Henry, Toby, Archie and Jamie. George lived his life with a passion and infectious joy; George’s passing leaves a massive gap for his family, his many friends and colleagues, the international research community and the countless students that he has influenced. The world has lost a great scientist, but more significantly a kind and wonderful man and it is a lesser place without him.’
New Student at St Mary’s Dr Ian Hampson, the University of Manchester
Gavin Batman, who is jointly funded by The Humane Research Trust and the University of Manchester, is our most recent PhD student. Gavin graduated in 2004 from the University of Liverpool with a Degree in Pharmacology and was employed at Liverpool Womens' Hospital to work within their cytogenetics department. He then made the decision to undertake a Masters degree in virology which gave him a real interest in this subject. Gavin’s project is to continue research on the antiviral HIV drug lopinavir that was the subject of our recent press release on the prospective new use for this drug to treat human papilloma virus (HPV) infected pre-cancerous disease of the cervix (See web site). Gavin will carry out an in depth study to identify which cellular proteins are affected by lopinavir and how these may contribute to the anti- HPV effects of this drug in various cell culture systems including organ cultures of human skin. It is noteworthy that the manufacturer of lopinavir, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, has agreed to provide us with ultrapure research grade drug for this project. This is a very significant achievement as large pharmaceutical companies, such as Abbott, do not lightly enter into this type of agreement.
Success for UEA It has been a successful year for Lixin Wang. Following on from the receipt of an ARVO young investigator’s travel award in May 2006, which enabled him to give an oral presentation at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology conference in Florida, Lixin was also honoured as the first recipient of the Fred Bettleheim award. This prize is open for promising young investigators, and receiving this award enabled him to present his work at the International Congress of Eye Research in Buenos Aires, Argentina (October 2006).
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