London’s up and coming scientists showcase their research

They are still in the early stages of their scientific careers, but their work holds tremendous promise for the future. 350 students and trainees will showcase their research in the second annual London Health Research Day at the London Convention Centre on Tuesday, March 19^th running from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event, titled "Driving innovation through collaboration," is organized by Western's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and the Lawson Health Research Institute.

London Health Research Day established itself last year as the largest multi-disciplinary research day in Ontario, with nearly 1,000 people attending at various times of the day. This year promises to be even better thanks to a generous gift of $75,000 from the Bernard & Norton Wolf Family Foundation to attract high-calibre luncheon speakers for the annual event. The inaugural Lucille & Norton Wolf Health Research Lecture Series will feature an international expert in pharmacology, Dr. Terry Kenakin of the University of North Carolina's School of Medicine.

But the main highlight of the day is seeing the exciting and diverse research projects underway by students, trainees and postdoctoral scholars. One study, for example, looks at preemies and whether it was their early birth or their family's social risk factors that had the greatest influence over their developmental delay at age two. Another looks at whether hydrogen sulphide could be used to reduce tissue damage in a kidney transplant. Other research projects shed new light on diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

The participants are judged on their scientific posters and platform presentations, and an awards dinner will be held that evening starting at 5:30, emceed by CTV National Medical Correspondent, Avis Favaro.

Media contacts:

Kathy Wallis, Media Relations Officer, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, cell: 519-777-1573, Kathy.wallis@schulich.uwo.ca

Julia Capaldi, Communications Consultant, Lawson Health Research Institute, cell: 519-200-1115, Julia.capaldi@lawsonresearch.com