Eminent Chinese Scientists visit Edinburgh

Released: 21 March 2006

The ESRC Genomics Forum, based at the University of Edinburgh, will today (Tuesday 21 March 2006) welcome a high powered delegation of Chinese natural and social scientists to Edinburgh to discuss the issues and impacts of modern life sciences in China and the UK.

Representing a number of Chinese institutions, including Peking University, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences and the National Natural Science Foundation, the 11 international visitors are joined by UK delegates from the London School of Economics (LSE), University of Newcastle’s Policy, Ethics and Life Sciences Research Centre (PEALS), BIOS, Genewatch, the University of Edinburgh and the ESRC Genomics Network.

During the 2 day meeting, participants will discuss a range of social, economic, policy, ethical and scientific issues such as the economic benefits of modern life sciences research; types of genetic services available in the UK and China and their social consequences; and public awareness and knowledge of scientific issues.

Michael Banner, Director of the ESRC Genomics Policy Research Forum, said,

 “This meeting is a great opportunity for international experts to exchange knowledge and ideas about the latest developments in Chinese and UK life sciences policy and practice, and explore possibilities for further cooperation between organisations with expertise in this area. The ESRC Genomics Forum is delighted to facilitate these discussions.”

The visit has been coordinated by the ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum, the University of Edinburgh and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Ends

Professor Michael Banner and Professor Zuoyan Zhu, Vice President of the National Natural Science Foundation of China are available for interview.

For further information, please contact: Emma-Elizabeth Capewell, 0131 651 4746

Note to Editors:

Notes

1. The ESRC Genomics Forum, based at the University of Edinburgh, is part of a £12 million investment by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) examining the relationship between society and genomic’s science and technologies. It is part of the ESRC Genomics Network that includes Cesagen (Lancaster and Cardiff Universities), Egenis (University of Exeter) and Innogen (University of Edinburgh and the Open University), examining numerous aspects of the social and economic significance of genomics, and the ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum (University of Edinburgh) tasked with connecting this research with national policy.