Royal recognition for neuroscience research at the University of Sheffield

• The University of Sheffield has been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for innovation in neuroscience
• The prize is the highest national honour that recognises outstanding work by UK universities and colleges that demonstrate quality and innovation in their research
• Sheffield has been recognised for improving patient outcomes for people living with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease and Motor Neurone Disease

Neuroscience research at the University of Sheffield has been recognised by Her Majesty The Queen for delivering real benefits in improving patient outcomes for people living with some of the most devastating neurodegenerative diseases.

The Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) based at the University of Sheffield was awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize today (21 November 2019) at St James’s Palace.

The prize awarded to SITraN is unique in the honours system and only bestowed upon a UK college or university which demonstrates new and innovative approaches to its research and development that have delivered benefits to the public at local, national and global levels.

SITraN’s vision is to harness the rapidly emerging, exciting developments in neuroscience to translate into new treatments and improved quality of life for patients with neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Achievements highlighted by the award include:

• a new orthotic device, ‘HeadUp’, for patients living with MND who suffer from muscle weakness in their neck
• ground-breaking clinical stem cell clinical trials for MS patients
• research which has improved the life-expectancy and quality of life for those living with MND
• the discovery of a biomarker linked to the development of Alzheimer’s Disease for the first time, which has the potential for earlier diagnosis and has sparked the development of new therapies
• drug discovery programmes to develop new treatments for Parkinson’s Disease
• new gene therapy experimental medicine studies for MND which are showing promising early results.

Professor Dame Pamela Shaw, Director of SITraN, said: “Receiving this award is a great honour. It gives recognition to our research teams who have made enormous scientific progress in treating some of the most devastating neurological diseases, making a real difference to patients’ lives.

“We hope that this award will inspire confidence for patients and their families, research partners and donors as we continue to make discoveries that deepen the understanding of neurological diseases and open up the potential for new treatments and therapies.”

SITraN – which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2020 – is considered a world-leader in neuroscience research. Its work forms part of the University of Sheffield’s Neuroscience Institute, which aims to bring academics together from across varied specialties to translate scientific discoveries from the lab into pioneering treatments that will benefit people living with neurodegenerative diseases.

Professor Koen Lamberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: “It’s wonderful to see the Queen’s Anniversary Award recognising the University of Sheffield as a centre for excellence in neuroscience research and teaching which has the power to transform people’s lives.

“As well as making life-changing discoveries today, SITraN is nurturing the next generation of talented neuroscience students, whose research will lead to pioneering treatments for those living with neurological diseases in the future.”

Chair of the Royal Anniversary Trust, Sir Damon Buffini, said: “The prizes are granted every two years by the Queen and are the most prestigious national honour awarded to UK universities and colleges for their work.

“Entries in the scheme are invited in any subject area and are subjected to rigorous independent assessment in a process managed by the Royal Anniversary Trust. Recommendations for the Queen’s approval are made on the Prime Minister’s advice.

“The criteria are demanding and look for outstanding excellence in the chosen field, for innovation and for evidence of real public benefit. Competition is strong and the award is a mark of high quality in education and training which is widely recognised internationally as well as in the UK.”

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Notes to editors:

• Find more information about the Royal Anniversary Prizes here:
  
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• The awards were announced at a ceremony at St. James’s Palace in the City of Westminster on Thursday 21 November 2019.

The University of Sheffield

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