Film to help cancer patients
Zoo signs Memorandum of Understanding about pandas
Golf in the Park
John Bishop to head up charity fundraiser
JCI Edinburgh hold referendum debate
A group of film and media students from Queen Margaret University (QMU) are helping to dispel the myths around clinical trials for cancer sufferers in and around Edinburgh.
The second year students have teamed up with the South East Scottish Cancer Research Network (SESCRN) to create an audio-visual and film presentation for patients in a bid to raise awareness of the vital role clinical studies and trials have in helping develop new treatments.
SESCRN, which is part of NHS Lothian, brings together a number of cancer research organisations and provides patients with clear information on latest treatments, clinical research and opportunities to participate in clinical trials.
The film, which is now being streamed daily in outpatient waiting areas at Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital, features members of the SESCRN team talking about the valuable contribution cancer patients make in assisting with clinical studies. It outlines how participation in clinical trials can help in the evaluation of cancer treatments, such as new drugs or radiotherapy regimens and thereby improve outcomes for patients.
Denny Collie, Lecturer in Creative Enterprise at QMU, said: “Our Film and Media students delivered excellent results for SESCRN by developing an informative and awareness-raising audio-visual and film presentation that is now been viewed by hundreds of cancer patients and their families at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh every month.
“Not only did the students gain excellent practical and technical experience working on a live project, but SESCRN now has a high quality resource that is helping inform patients about the value of clinical trials.”
Commenting on the partnership with Queen Margaret University, Dorothy Boyle, Network Manager for SESCRN, said: “We’re so pleased to have had the opportunity to act as a local business client for the QMU students.
“Not only have the students provided us with a professional product that we can share with our patients, but they have really got to grips with the technical information about cancer research and clinical trials by breaking it down into clear, bite-sized and accessible chunks.
“We now have an effective audio-visual and video resource which is helping convey the message that clinical studies are safe and which also better informs patients and their families about opportunities to take part in studies.”
Each year, QMU media students undertake a special project with local businesses and organisations like SESCRN to produce a film, website or social media campaign. These client projects provide excellent experience for second year film and media students.
The range of local organisations that students work with includes small businesses, or charity and community groups which may not have the expertise or budget needed to produce specialist promotional media.
The QMU film and media students who worked on the SESCRN project were Ross Brydon, Ryan Currie, Scot Hall, Jamie McGregor, Robbie Wardlaw and Andrew Welsh.
If other Edinburgh businesses, organisations and voluntary organisations are interested in finding out more about QMU’s film and media client projects they should email Denny Collie at dcollie@qmu.ac.uk
For more information on South East Scottish Cancer Research Network and clinical trials, visit www.sescrn.org.uk
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Two leading institutions which have worked closely on attempts to produce Britain’s first panda cub have strengthened their relationship at a ceremony in Edinburgh.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and the University of Edinburgh signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding to encourage further collaboration on a range of research projects and RZSS activities.
The agreement will allow specialists across the humanities and sciences to build on their work in the giant panda project by participating in public events and sharing scientific facilities.
Possible initiatives include the development of a joint discovery centre, as well as research on sustainability, climate change and animal conservation and breeding. The two bodies will also explore the possibility of doing more to protect and promote Scotland’s wildlife.
Experts from the two historic institutions have already been working closely together.
Endocrinologists at the Queen’s Medical Research Institute (QMRI) at the University of Edinburgh, have been analysing daily urine samples taken from Tian Tian.
Together, Society and University experts have been able to confirm key timelines in the female giant panda’s breeding window and pregnancy by extracting complex scientific data that shows protein levels and hormone crossovers and dips at various key stages.
The compilation and study of the data sourced has happily allowed scientists at both organisations to confirm Tian Tian is likely pregnant and will carry to full term.
As well as sharing equipment and expertise on difficult cases and testing services, the Professor of Veterinary Anaesthesia at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Eddie Clutton, was responsible for anaesthetising Tian Tian during the artificial insemination procedure.
Other ongoing collaborations include the Living Links to Human Evolution Research Centre on site at Edinburgh Zoo. Opened in 2008, Living Links is a field station and research centre of the University of St Andrews, established in partnership with RZSS. It has large outside and inside enclosures in which capuchin monkeys and squirrel monkeys live together.
These animals form mixed-species groups in the wild. Living Links is designed to support studies by scientists at the Universities of St Andrews, Stirling, Edinburgh and Abertay, who together form the Scottish Primate Research Group (SPRG). Members of SPRG study primate behaviour at many field-sites in the wild, as well as in captivity.
The memorandum was signed by Jeremy Peat, RZSS Chair, and Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, in the library of Edinburgh Zoo’s Mansion House.
Watching over proceedings were a number of the Zoo’s presentation animals – such as a three-banded armadillo and a bearded dragon.
Jeremy Peat, Chair of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: “There has been a longstanding association between RZSS and the University of Edinburgh, from the foundation of the Society and Edinburgh Zoo in the early 20th Century, to the current day.
“The strongest associations have been between zoologists and veterinary scientists, and for many years the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh provided clinical service to Edinburgh Zoo.
“Since then there has been a constant informal exchange between the two bodies, with representation in governance, shared enterprises and intellectual stimulation. It is now agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding will provide a framework for further collaborations.”
Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, said: “I am delighted that we are able to come together and formalise joint objectives and shared goals. We have a strong history of collaboration and it is very satisfying to recognise this publically and formally.”
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Edinburgh Golf in partnership with the Golf Tavern, will be hosting the Golf in the Park Ryder Cup Festival on the 23rd August 2014 The day will be full of fun activities for golfers, families and the local community. Food and drink will sold on the day with a burgers on the grill too. Tickets are limited and will be a first come first serve basis.
All team players must be a member of a golf club and hold a valid handicap.
Prizes
• 2 x Ryder Cup Tickets
• 2 x 2015 Open Championship Tickets (St Andrews)
• Fourball at Kingsbarns
• Fourball at Royal Dornoch
• Fourball at Nairn Golf Club
• Fourball at Rockliffe Hall
• Jaguar 5.0 V8 Supercharged Sports Car – Closest to the Pin
• Golf Vouchers from Golf Breaks and Tee-Off-Times
• Best Dressed Team Prize (Royal & Awesome)
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Milking it for Charity
Underbelly, McEwan Hall, 00:30
Thursday 21st August 2014
John Bishop will host a very special, all-star comedy performance in the early hours of Thursday morning, to raise funds for St Richard’s Hospice.
Milking it for charity has been organised by Phil McIntyre Ents producer Amy Hopwood in a tribute to the outstanding care her mother received at the hospice, and will feature a sensational line-up which includes Jason Manford, Jason Byrne, Lloyd Langford, Pete Firman and James Acaster.
St Richard’s Hospice provides free specialist palliative care for patients living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses and supports their families. Each year the hospice team supports over 2,500 patients and family members in Worcestershire.
Donations to the Mary Hopwood’s memorial fund can be made at www.justgiving.com/mooeyhopwood/
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JCI Edinburgh to Host Referendum Debate for Young Professionals
Wednesday 20 August 2014, 6.00pm – 9.00 pm
English Speaking Union Scotland, 23 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 8HQ
With less than five weeks to go until the referendum, JCI Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square Club is hosting a debate on Scottish Independence that specifically seeks to address the concerns of young people in business.
Featuring speakers from both sides of the campaign, the event aims to equip young professionals with the facts they need in order to make an informed decision on the 18th of September. The panel will feature a variety of young business professionals and will give attendees the chance to gain answers to their burning questions.
The event, which is completely free and is open to non-members, will provide a unique opportunity for attendees to gain clarity on the issues that particularly affect them.
The evening will be split in two, starting with a debate featuring members of JCI Edinburgh. The second part will centre around a panel discussion with the opportunity for questions from the floor, featuring journalist Ian Fraser, Iain McGill of Harmony Employment and Scottish debating champion Paul Stretton.
The organiser of the event, JCI Edinburgh’s current Board Secretary Amy Thomson hopes the relevance of the subject matter will encourage non-members to come along and find out more about what JCI has to offer.
“One of the most important things about JCI is the opportunities it creates to meet new and interesting people. That’s why we encourage non-members to come along to events such as this which provide an open forum for discussion and debate in a friendly and welcoming environment.”
JCI Edinburgh is part of Junior Chamber International, the worldwide personal development organisation for business professionals in their 20s and 30s. They offer a stimulating range of activities to enable members to develop communication, presentation, leadership, project management, networking and business skills. Their aim is provide tomorrow’s leaders with the necessary skills to improve themselves and their community.
For an annual fee of £85, JCI members can access a wide-ranging programme of events, training and social opportunities. A voluntary organisation, JCI also has a long history of charitable work and fundraising. Recent local projects have seen members participate in an Apprentice style challenge which saw two teams battle it out to run the most successful Bethany charity shop as well as a Suit Drive, in which members of the public were encouraged to donate unwanted suits to the homeless in order to assist them in finding work.
To register to attend the event, please email Amy Thomson: amy.thomson@jciedinburgh.org.uk.
For more information on opportunities and events organised by JCI Edinburgh please visit http://jciedinburgh.org.uk/.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
