University raises £4,000 to fight neurological conditions, with help from Elton John
The University of Sheffield has raised £4,000 for the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), an institution devoted to research into neurological diseases such as Motor Neurone Disease and Parkinson’s Disease, thanks to the help of Elton John.
Sir Elton John kindly donated tickets for a recent concert, the proceeds of which will be put towards a fundraising initiative to buy cutting edge equipment, which will greatly expand the Institute’s capability of techniques for investigating neurodegenerative diseases at the level of DNA. This will help develop knowledge of the disease process and help to identify the best way to develop new therapies for these distressing disorders.
Professor Pamela Shaw, Director of SITraN, said: “The SITraN research team and I are very grateful to Sir Elton John and his colleagues for this very generous donation which will contribute towards a vital piece of research equipment. We know that having the best equipment here in Sheffield will be invaluable in progressing the understanding of the mechanisms of Motor Neurone Disease and Parkinson’s Disease and advancing the development of new therapies for these devastating conditions.”
SITraN, as part of its ongoing research strategy to develop its capacity for world leading neurodegenerative research in Sheffield, has embarked on a fundraising initiative in partnership with Mr Jonathan M L Stone, Founding Patron of the Sheffield Institute Foundation for Motor Neurone Disease to buy a vital piece of equipment called an Illumina HiScan System which costs approximately £405,000.
Miles Stevenson, Director of Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Sheffield, said: “We are extremely grateful to Sir Elton John, Jonathan Stone, and all our donors, as they allow us to continue the world class research we conduct. We have raised over £11 million in the last three years that supports research, scholarships and services for our students.”
To raise the remaining funds for this vital piece of equipment, Mr Stone has also generously organised a gala concert at Wigmore Hall in London on 14th September, featuring some of the classical “stars of tomorrow”. In addition to being a fundraiser for SITraN, the gala is also intended as a celebration event for the University following some of its recent successes, including the Times Higher University of the Year award, and CASE Award for sustained excellence in fundraising. A brochure about the event can be downloaded here: http://sitran.dept.shef.ac.uk/donating.htm
Additional information:
The University of Sheffield
With nearly 25,000 students from 125 countries, the University of Sheffield is one of the UK’s leading and largest universities. A member of the Russell Group, it has a reputation for world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines.
The University of Sheffield has been named University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards for its exceptional performance in research, teaching, access and business performance. In addition, the University has won four Queen’s Anniversary Prizes (1998, 2000, 2002, 2007). These prestigious awards recognise outstanding contributions by universities and colleges to the United Kingdom’s intellectual, economic, cultural and social life. Sheffield also boasts five Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and many of its alumni have gone on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence around the world.
The University’s research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls Royce, Unilever, Boots, AstraZeneca, GSK, ICI, Slazenger, and many more household names, as well as UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations.
The University has well-established partnerships with a number of universities and major corporations, both in the UK and abroad. Its partnership with Leeds and York Universities in the White Rose Consortium has a combined research power greater than that of either Oxford or Cambridge.
SITraN
The Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) is a new state-of-the-art dedicated research institute at the University of Sheffield which was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on the 18th November 2010. The £12 million research facility covers 2,800 m² over two floors and includes research labs, offices, seminar rooms and a library. The Institute has been generously funded by the University and the Sheffield Institute Foundation for Motor Neurone Disease, which was formed by a concerned group of Patrons who wanted to support its development.
Contact
For further information please contact:
Matthew Denton
Communications Assistant
The University of Sheffield
0114 222 1038
Matthew.denton@sheffield.ac.uk