WORLD-CLASS biomedical research at MMU was showcased at the first IRM International Symposium in Manchester.
IRM – the Institute for Biomedical Research into Human Movement and Health – has moved from Cheshire to new state-of-the-art facilities at the John Dalton science and engineering campus in central Manchester.
It houses some of Europe’s leading experts in physiology, biomechanics, molecular and cell biology, motor control and ageing – many of whom were adjudged ‘world-class’ in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.
Vital science for city
Welcoming collaborators from Canada, Switzerland and Sweden, Professor Bill Baltzopoulos, said the move to Manchester was an exciting and important time to provide vital scientific research support for the city-region’s huge health and sport infrastructure.
Presenters included:
- Professor Martin Fluck
- Professor Claire Stewart
- Dr Hans Degens
- Professor David Jones
- Professor Costis Maganaris
- Dr Ian Loram
- Professor Dilwyn Marple-Horvat
- Professor Marco Narici
Delegates were given tours of the new £3 million laboratories, which include DNA sequencing; con-focal microscopy; flow cytometry; single muscle fibre mechanics; whole body MRI, and 3D Ultrasound scanning; X-ray video fluoroscopy; VICON and CODA movement analysis systems, and a fascinating ‘plank’ – a 5-metre high platform to test balance under fear of falling!
Tributes
Sadly not in attendance due to illness was IRM’s founding member Professor Anthony Sargeant, who retires this summer.
Paying tribute to him, Vice-Chancellor Professor John Brooks said: "Tony’s strong and visionary leadership for more than a decade helped research in this nationally important field reach the heights of academic excellence."
The IRM Symposium is followed by The Physiological Society Meeting, in Manchester (30th June to 2nd July). David Jones and Marco Narici are also organising a symposium during the Physiological Society Meeting. http://www.physiology2010.org/symp/1wed2.html