Vital equipment donated for Alzheimer’s research

Dr Pat Kehoe (Bristol University) explains to Neil McDonald of Bunzl Healthcare (centre) and Mark Poarch of BRACE why the BioAnalyser is an invaluable tool

Press release issued: 23 June 2010

Bunzl Healthcare has given two equipment grants for specific items needed by Alzheimer’s researchers in central Bristol and Bristol University’s Dementia Research Group based at Frenchay Hospital.

Bunzl Healthcare, part of Bunzl plc, the international outsourcing and distribution Group, gave two equipment grants earlier this year for specific items urgently needed by Alzheimer’s researchers based in central Bristol and at Frenchay Hospital in South Gloucestershire.

Over £15,000 was spent on a single item of equipment for the John James Laboratories at Frenchay. This is a “BioAnalyser with the DNA/RNA module”, which is needed for measuring the integrity of the message that genes produce to make proteins.

Dr Pat Kehoe, Gestetner Senior Research Fellow in the Dementia Research Group at the University of Bristol, said: “This piece of equipment will help us to maximise the quality of the work we do on genes and corresponding biological pathways that may be involved in the development or progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

“It is very important to our immediate research work but also to our function in hosting the South West Dementia Brain Bank where we can provide high quality samples for dementia research not only in Bristol but also in an international context.”

Neil Macdonald, Bunzl Healthcare Sales Director, said: “Alzheimer’s is an illness that has a devastating affect on both the sufferer and their families. The need for research is urgent and we are very pleased to be able to provide funds for equipment that will make an immediate difference to the research projects. We wish the teams at BRACE much success.”

BRACE Chief Executive, Mark Poarch, said: “Funding for research into Alzheimer’s is very low compared to illnesses such as cancer and the need for more resources is growing ever more urgent. It is great that Bunzl have chosen us for this very generous gift and we are very grateful for their support.”

Further information

The Dementia Research Group, headed by Dr Patrick Kehoe and Professor Seth Love, is focused on the molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The Group’s research programme translates a number of interwoven research themes using molecular genetic, biochemical, cell culture-based and neuropathological approaches to the study of dementia. The Research Group is part of the University of Bristol’s Department of Clinical Science at North Bristol (CSNB) and is based in the John James Laboratories at Frenchay Hospital.

BRACE (Bristol Research into Alzheimer’s and Care of the Elderly) was established in 1987 to raise money for research into Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. It has raised over £11 million and supports world-class research in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and Cardiff.

Please contact Joanne Fryer for further information.