Last Friday (17 November) Shadow Minister for Science, Research & Innovation, Chi Onwurah MP, heard about physiology past, present and future during a visit to Newcastle University’s Faculty of Medical Science.
The Shadow Minister visited The Physiological Society’s Blue Plaque that has been erected to celebrate renowned physiologist Francis Bainbridge and the vital work he did at Newcastle University. She also had lunch with physiology students and paid a visit to a physiology lab to see first-hand the cutting edge research currently underway.
Following the visit, Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and Shadow Minister Science Research & Innovation Chi Onwurah said:
“Physiology has a proud past and an exciting future. It was great to hear about renowned physiologist Francis Bainbridge and the vital work he did at Newcastle University, as well as see The Physiological Society’s Blue Plaque dedicated to him.
“I enjoyed meeting physiology students and discussing why this area of science is so inspiring. It was fascinating to see the research underway in the physiology of the retina, which hopes to transform how we treat people with severely impaired vision.
“The work of physiologists is so important because it improves our understanding of how the body works, and this is fundamental to us all leading healthier lives.
“I am really proud that Newcastle has such an illustrious history in physiology, and that so much cutting edge physiology research is taking place right here today.”
Andrew Mackenzie, Associate Director of Strategy and External Relations at The Physiological Society, added:
“Thanks to Chi for visiting to hear about physiology past, present and future. It was great to see physiology and physiologists in the spotlight.
“As the science of how the body works, physiology is central to improving our health. Physiologists around the world are working to tackle big challenges such as ageing populations and responding to the health impacts of climate change.”
Contact info
Andrew Mackenzie, Associate Director of Strategy and External Relations
The Physiological Society
amackenzie@physoc.org
0207 269 5728
Notes for Editors
- Photo showing the group in front of Francis Bainbridge blue plaque – located in Newcastle University’s Faculty of Medical Science.
- Left-right in photo: Elsa Maunganidze (Final year BSc Physiological Sciences student and EDI representative of student-staff committee); Andrew Mackenzie (Associate Director of Strategy and External Relations, The Physiological Society), Chi Onwurah MP, Katie Cooper (Final year BSc Physiological Sciences student and Chair of the student-staff committee); Professor Michael Taggart (Chair of Reproductive Sciences); Dr Sri Ramaswamy (Principal Investigator and Tenure-track NUAcT Fellow); and Professor David Thwaites (Chair of Epithelial Physiology).
- Physiology is the science of life. It is the branch of biology that aims to understand the mechanisms of living things, from the basis of cell function at the ionic and molecular level to the integrated behaviour of the whole body and the influence of the external environment. Research in physiology helps us to understand how the body works in health and how it responds and adapts to the challenges of everyday life; it also helps us to determine what goes wrong in disease, facilitating the development of new treatments and guidelines for maintaining human and animal health.