Teamwork Tackles Genetic Disease

A pioneering partnership between the University of Greenwich and the University for Modern Science and Arts in Cairo has seen a delegation of Egyptian students working in the laboratories of the School of Science in Medway as part of international research into genetic disease.

Nine students from the faculty of biotechnology, Cairo, are spending three weeks at the Chatham Maritime campus as part of their graduation project working on the global Human Genome project. They are using the state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques and bioinformatics as part of a project to identify mutations which lead to genetic disease in humans.

Professor Martin Snowden, Head of the School of Science at Medway, said: “This is the first time this type of work has been carried out and it has proved a very successful collaboration between the two universities, forging a working relationship for future projects.

“A group of students from the Medway School of Science will visit the University of Modern Science and Arts in Cairo in October to address the second International Conference for Applications of Biotechnology, organised jointly by both universities.”

In partnership the Cairo university currently has more than 2,000 students registered on University of Greenwich School of Science programmes in Science, Engineering and Architecture. The final part of the Egyptians’ project will be carried out in the laboratories in Cairo.

One visiting third year biotechnology, student, Hanan Farhat, said: “Working in the laboratories of the School of Science has allowed me and my colleagues to acquire experience essential for success in our chosen subject. The staff and supervisors were very friendly and knowledgeable and the library is excellent.”

The University of Greenwich has campuses at Greenwich, Avery Hill and Medway. To find out more about courses available at the University of Greenwich, call 0800 005 006 or visit www.greenwich.ac.uk.

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PICTURE: Professor Martin Snowden with the partner students from the University for Modern Science and Arts, Cairo, in the laboratories at the Medway School of Science

For interview opportunities and further media information, please contact:

• University of Greenwich Public Relations, tel: 020 8331 9420

• Delphine Houlton or Georgette McCready, at Maxim, tel: 01892 513033