Mayor of Oadby and Wigston views world-class research at University of Leicester

Mayor is supporting the Alzheimer’s Society and learns more about research into the disease.

The Mayor of Oadby and Wigston, Councillor David Carter, accompanied by his consort, Mrs Janet Carter, viewed first-hand the world-class research into neurodegenerative diseases at the University of Leicester on Friday 1 March 2019.

His Mayoral charity is the Alzheimer’s Society, and Mr Carter was able to hear about the work the Society is funding at the University.

He met with Professor Elizabeta Mukaetova-Ladinska, Chair in Old Age Psychiatry; Professor Kevin Paterson, Professor of Experimental Psychology; and Professor Flaviano Giorgini, Professor of Neurogenetics during his three-hour tour of the campus.

He was welcomed by Professor Paul Monks, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Science and Engineering, and the Mayoral party also visited the Attenborough Arts Centre, which they toured with Deputy Director of the Centre, Jeremy Webster.

The Mayoral party, accompanied by a sixth form student interested in Alzheimer’s research, also met with postgraduate students and watched experiments with fruit flies used in research into Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Mr Carter, an alumnus of the University, said: “It was wonderful to see the talented and dedicated staff and students at the University of Leicester who through their world-class research are making a valuable contribution to better understanding Alzheimer’s – a disease that that has touched so many people’s lives.

“I have good reason to be proud of the University – its botanical garden is the jewel in the crown of the borough. Janet – who used to work at the University – and I were very impressed by all the developments on campus and it was a privilege to see the lab where DNA fingerprinting was discovered 35 years ago.”

• The Leicester Grammar School Big Band is performing a concert in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society on Wednesday 10 April. The concert will take place at 7.30pm at Leicester Grammar School in Great Glen, LE8 9FL. Entry is £10 per person and free for under-18s. See more information on their website, or call them at +44 (0)116 259 1966.