UWA alumni reception in London

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On the 13th and 14th of October 2009 the University of Western Australia’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson AM CitWA and several other senior staff members visited London for a dinner and reception, which connected with alumni and distinguished academics with a relationship with the University of Western Australia.

The University of Western Australia Dinner was themed around The Future of Science and the Science Futures Foundation. Keynote speaker Professor Dame Kay Davies CBE DBE FRS FMedSci spoke about the science behind recent breakthroughs in the treatment for those with genetically based diseases, including muscular dystrophy.

 

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Image: Kerry Sanderson AO, Agent General, Dick Porter, co-founder and Director, STA Travel Group, Professor Ann Dell CBE FRS, Imperial College London

 

Professor Davies, Head of the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics at Oxford University, enthralled the audience with her talk about the science behind recent breakthroughs in the treatment for those with genetically based diseases, including muscular dystrophy.

Professor Davies, who has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Western Australia, also spoke about her exciting collaboration with those in Western Australia, in particular Professor Steve Milton’s group at the Australian Neuromuscular Research Institute (UWA), which had lead to breakthroughs in a technique termed Exon skipping for the development of therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Exon skipping works by masking the faulty part of the dystrophin gene, allowing a shortened but functional dystrophin protein to be produced.

Professor Davies’ talk enabled the audience to understand the benefits of the linkages between researchers in both Western Australia and the United Kingdom and to appreciate what has been achieved and could potentially be achieved through collaboration.

In addition to the dinner, a function was held for alumni and it was attended by a number of more recent graduates including current and past Rhodes Scholars who have attended the University of Western Australia. It was evident that they are proud of their linkages to Western Australia’s oldest university and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson AM CitWA spoke of the achievements and future goals of the University including its forthcoming centenary.