̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge - Jennifer Barnes

̽��ֱ�� ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre will cooperate to promote evidence-based policymaking

th288 — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:54:27 +0000

̽��ֱ��purpose of the agreement, signed by Dr Barnes and by the JRC’s Director General, Vladimír Šucha (pictured left), is to promote research collaboration between the two organisations, particularly regarding the use of evidence to inform policy-making in Europe.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor said: “All the best science in the world without translation into policy really is of no practical value in the world of tomorrow. Doing the science itself is not enough –we have to work with those who are in positions of making decisions, as these will affect the lives of citizens of Europe”.

Vladimír Šucha said the MoU followed a series of contacts between the two organisations: "I'm extremely happy that we're going to have a formalised understanding between the JRC and the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge. I hope that European policy will profit from these contacts and from this ocean of knowledge within Cambridge."

̽��ֱ��Memorandum of Understanding foresees collaboration in research into the use of evidence in policymaking, particularly with the ̽��ֱ��’s Centre for Science and Policy. It will also facilitate academic exchanges, and the undertaking of joint research projects in areas of common interest.

A pilot programme on Green Growth and Sustainability is already being developed jointly by the JRC’s Institute for Environment and Sustainability, the Cambridge Forum for Sustainability and the Environment, and a number of the ̽��ֱ��’s Strategic Initiatives.

̽��ֱ��signing of the Memorandum of Understanding was followed by a lunch-time lecture to JRC members, “Cervical cancer –A biological and public health policy conundrum”, delivered by the Vice-Chancellor.

̽��ֱ��JRC supports the European Commission by providing EU policymakers with independent, evidence-based scientific and technical support throughout the whole policy cycle. This is the latest in a number of agreements with which the JRC pursues closer cooperation with the European scientific community through partnerships with universities, national academies and other umbrella research organisations.

̽��ֱ��Vice-Chancellor of the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, Prof Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International Strategy, Dr Jennifer Barnes (pictured right), were in Brussels on Monday 7 September for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and the European Commission’s in-house science service, the Joint Research Centre (JRC).

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Major Partner Museum status for UCM

sjr81 — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 16:39:51 +0000

Over the last three years, Cambridge has made full use of previous Arts Council funding to transform the way its eight major museums work in partnership, and to unlock their world-class collections for both Cambridge and the wider world.

Major successes have included the Thresholds poetry project, curated by Carol Ann Duffy, and Discoveries at 2 Temple Place in London.

Discoveries, now transferred to ̽��ֱ��Fitzwilliam Museum, is the first-ever joint exhibition to involve all ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge Museums and the first exhibition of Cambridge’s globally important research collections to be held outside the city.

And there was further good news today as Kettle’s Yard received first stage backing from Arts Council England to support the creation of a new Education Wing. ̽��ֱ��Arts Council funding, totalling £3.5m, is a substantial step towards the campaign target of £8.7m. Arts Council England have also renewed Kettle’s Yard National Portfolio Organisation status and committed £446,271 funding for the next three years.

Dr Jennifer Barnes, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International Strategy), and Chair of the General Board Museums Committee, said: “These significant awards announced on the same day, recognize the essential role museums and collections play in research, teaching and understanding. Each collection is of global significance, adding an extraordinary dimension to our university, community and region. Cambridge Museums, whether working as a single collection or together, demonstrate that curating the past is about understanding the present and creating new futures. These awards allow us to share that future with all who come to Cambridge, of all ages, whether as visitors, students or researchers.”

UCM plan to use the next round of Arts Council funding to consolidate ongoing progress into understanding, widening and diversifying its audience. Major steps to achieving this have already been undertaken with imaginative learning programmes, digital innovation and deeper connections with communities both in and beyond Cambridge.

UCM is also taking the lead in joining up arts and cultural provision across the city, with Curating Cambridge – a five-week programme of cultural events and activities from October 20 – typifying this new approach.

Tim Knox, Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum, said: “Being afforded Major Partner Museum status is a huge privilege and one we take very seriously. Arts Council England has fully supported the great strides we’ve made in recent years and, with their continued support, there is plenty of exciting work yet to be undertaken.”

Liz Hide, ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge Museums Officer, said: “Here in Cambridge, we are lucky in having many exceptional museums, each of which contribute to the academic, social and community work of the ̽��ֱ��. Our ongoing goal now is to open up the cultural riches of Cambridge to as wide and diverse an audience as possible.”

Hedley Swain, Area Director, South East, Arts Council England, said: “We are pleased to continue supporting ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge Museums. It proposes to deliver an ambitious and broad ranging programme of activity that will support transformational access to its key collections. Its programme of activity will help further develop its position as a leading centre of excellence for conservation and collections based research. It will also continue to build on its pioneering community and lifelong learning programmes, whilst also establishing itself as a centre for innovative digital engagement. ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge Museums also plans to reach more children and young people, with a particular emphasis on using digital platforms, ensuring they have the opportunity to engage with and be inspired by its collections. This work will be underpinned by its exemplar commitment to environmental sustainability, resilience and its support for museums and gallery career and workforce development.”

̽��ֱ��vision of securing Cambridge’s reputation as an international centre of museums excellence received a major boost today when Arts Council England awarded ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge Museums (UCM) nearly £4.5m for 2015-18 and continuing Major Partner Museum status.

Each collection is of global significance, adding an extraordinary dimension to our university, community and region.

Jennifer Barnes

Sir Cam

Polar snow goggles from Discoveries at London’s 2 Temple Place, the first joint exhibition from the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge Museums, and the first to be held outside the city.

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US Congressional delegation on dementia visits Cambridge

th288 — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 14:27:45 +0000

̽��ֱ��delegation was timed to build on the momentum generated by the G8 Dementia Summit, which took place in London in December 2013.

It included Congresswoman Lois Frankel, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Rima Cohen, Counselor for Health Policy to the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Dr David Reuben, Director of the Multicampus Programme in Geriatrics Medicine at the ̽��ֱ�� of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for Health Sciences.

̽��ֱ��purpose of the trip was to deepen understanding of the ways in which US and UK policymakers and healthcare leaders can jointly address the escalating challenge that the ageing population and specifically Alzheimer’s disease poses to our global society.

Delegates participated in a roundtable discussion on dementia research and Cambridge Cognition’s development of a new electronic iPad device which can assess cognition function. This was led by Barbara Sahakian, Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology and President of the British Association for Psychopharmacology.

In the afternoon, they took part in another roundtable on the public health impact of dementia, led by Professor Carol Brayne, Director, Institute of Public Health. Professor Brayne’s research programme is based on longitudinal population based studies of people aged 65 and above and has been running since 1985. She has been involved in US-UK exchanges between the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and the ̽��ֱ�� of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

̽��ֱ��delegation met the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz and Dr Jennifer Barnes, Pro-Vice Chancellor for International Strategy, to discuss global engagement and international collaborations between different laboratories.

In the evening they had dinner with Cambridge academics, including Professor Sahakian, Professor Chris Dobson, Master of St John’s, Professor of Chemical and Structural Biology and a leading Alzheimer’s expert, and Dr James Rowe, a clinical neuroscientist specialising in neurodegenerative disease.

During their four-day stay in the UK the delegation also met Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt, Norman Lamb, Minister for State for Care and Support, Hazel Blears, former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sir Mark Walport, Chief Scientific Advisor to Her Majesty’s Government, senior health policy officials from the Department of Health and NHS and members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia.

̽��ֱ��delegation was led by Dr Lindsay Chura, a former Gates Cambridge Scholar who is now a Senior Policy Advisor in Science and Innovation at the British Embassy in Washington.

Chura, who did her PhD in the Department of Psychiatry said: “Through participation in this delegation it is hoped that delegates will develop new perspective on the multifaceted ways in which policymakers from the US and UK can work together to address shifting age demographics through public policy, urban planning, and biomedical research.

“A list of follow-up actions from conversations between US and UK officials was compiled that will advance the Prime Minister’s Dementia Challenge and the Declaration signed at the G8 Summit on Dementia.”

Professor Sahakian added: "Prime Minister David Cameron has been a champion of early diagnosis and early effective treatment and management for people with Alzheimer's disease, as seen from his March 2012 and December 2013 G8 speeches on dementia. ̽��ֱ��meetings between the USA Congressional Delegation on Dementia and the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia will further the aims of President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron in ensuring that people with dementia are detected early and receive the best possible treatments and management currently available. As novel neuroprotective drugs, which halt the underlying disease process, become available, it is essential to ensure people with Alzheimer's disease are given these drugs early in the course of the disease in order to preserve functionality, quality of life and wellbeing."

̽��ֱ��delegation comprised:

- Congresswoman Doris Matsui, who represents California’s 6th congressional district, which includes the city of Sacramento, the capitol of California
- Congresswoman Lois Frankel, who represents Florida’s 22nd congressional district
- Rima Cohen, Acting Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and the Counselor for Health Policy at the US Department of Health and Human Services
- Dr David Reuben, Director, Multicampus Program in Geriatrics Medicine and Gerontology and Chief, Division of Geriatrics at the ̽��ֱ�� of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for Health Sciences
- Julie Eddy, Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Doris Matsui
- Maisha Leek, Chief of Staff for Congressman Chaka Fattah, representing Pennsylvania’s 2nd Congressional District (Congressman Fattah joined the briefing by video link)
- Stephanie J. Monroe, Director of USAgainstAlzheimer’s African American Network Against Alzheimer’s
- Matthew Mazonkey, Congressional Advisor for British Embassy in Washington, DC

A US Congressional delegation on ageing and dementia policy visited the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge this week to hear about UK research into one of the biggest healthcare challenges facing both the UK and US.

̽��ֱ��meetings will further the aims of President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron in ensuring that people with dementia are detected early and receive the best possible treatments and management currently available.

Barbara Sahakian

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