News and Events
Official opening of the Institute of Metabolic Science
24th July 2008
The Institute of Metabolic Science (IMS) was officially opened on the 24th July 2008 by Professor Alison Richard, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, and Dr Joe Goldstein, winner of the 1985 Nobel Prize in Physiology.
The Institute of Metabolic Science building
The day started with an inaugural lecture by Dr Joe Goldstein, who received the Nobel Prize for his work on receptor-mediated endocytosis that laid the groundwork for the development of statins – drugs that lower blood cholesterol and prevent heart attacks. To watch Dr Goldstein's lecture click here.
At the opening the co-directors of the IMS, Professors Steve O’Rahilly and Nick Wareham spoke of their vision in developing a world class centre for obesity and diabetes research. The IMS is unique in the UK in that it provides facilities for both basic and clinical experimental research (University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories), allied closely with epidemiological and public health studies (MRC Epidemiology Unit) and clinical research involving both adult and paediatric endocrinology clinics at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
"The obesity epidemic is bringing with it a rise in the occurrence of type 2 diabetes. This disease arises from an interaction between the lifestyles we lead and our susceptibility to the condition as a result of our genetic background and early development. In addition to working together across scientific disciplines to understand these interactions, scientists within our Institute are developing and evaluating strategies aimed at preventing these chronic diseases."
Professor Nick Wareham, Director of the MRC Epidemiology Unit and Co-Director of the IMS
The opening ceremony of the IMS (from left to right) Professor Krishna Chatterjee (Director of the Wolfson Diabetes and Endocrine Clinic), Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz (MRC Chief Executive), Dr Joe Goldstein (Regental Professor of the University of Texas), Professor David Dunger (Director of the Weston Centre for Childhood and Adolescent Diabetes and Endocrinology), Professor Nick Wareham (Director of the MRC Epidemiology Unit and Co-Director of the IMS) and Professor Stephen O'Rahilly (Director of the University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and Co-Director of the IMS).
