UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
Media release
Pioneering meningitis labs open

The pioneering Spencer Dayman Meningitis Laboratories in the University's School of Medical Sciences were officially opened yesterday, Tuesday April 30, by Professor Keith Cartwright, Director of Public Health for the South West.

Working in collaboration with scientists worldwide, the Spencer Dayman Meningitis Laboratories will be committed to the prevention of meningitis and associate diseases.

Mumtaz Virji, Professor of Molecular Microbiology at the University, who is internationally renowned for her research work into meningitis, is heading the research team. She said: 'This world class venue will enable us to make a significant contribution into vaccine development.'

The laboratories are named after 14-month old Spencer Dayman, who died from meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia 20 years ago. Spencer's father, Steve Dayman, Operations Officer for the charity's fundraising office, said: 'The work of the Spencer Dayman Meningitis Laboratories is of the utmost importance, as tragically, meningococcal B disease remains a serious threat to society nationwide and a challenge to modern medicine.

'These flagship laboratories are working to create a greater knowledge and understanding of the disease in addition to many other studies relating to meningitis in general. It is our vision to see a vaccine to protect against all forms of bacterial meningitis.'

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Email: public-relations@bristol.ac.uk
Copyright: 2001 The University of Bristol, UK
Updated: Thursday, 02-May-2002 14:12:13 BST