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Southport Reporter® covering the news on Merseyside.

Date:- 25 June 2007

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Liverpool medic to investigate rare but serious childhood disease

A LIVERPOOL medic is hoping to find out more about the development of a rare but serious disease that can have a devastating effect on young sufferers - in order to come up with better treatment.  Childhood lupus (also known as juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus) is an auto-immune disease that can affect the joints, skin, muscles, blood vessels and internal organs and can have a huge impact on a child's health as well as growth, psychological well-being and learning through into adulthood. It is a life-long and life-threatening disease. Some 20% of people develop it in childhood.  Although lupus can occur at any age and affects many adults, particularly women, it is often more severe in children.

Now Dr Zoë McLaren, a specialist registrar in rheumatology in Liverpool, has been awarded a 1-year Barbara Ansell Fellowship of £53,500 by medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign to investigate the cause of childhood lupus. The study will take place at the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, Alder Hey, and the Institute of Child Health, University of Liverpool.

"Treatment is available for the condition but there is no cure, and we don't fully understand what causes lupus," explained Dr McLaren. "A number of factors are important - genetics, infections, hormones and environmental influences. We know a little from studies in adults but the disease in children appears to be different in many ways. By examining the differences between adults and children we hope to understand more about the abnormalities of the immune system in this serious condition."

Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means the immune system, especially white blood cells, is affected and ends up attacking the body's own cells, causing disease and organ damage.

Dr McLaren will be studying the role of important white blood cells called neutrophils to find out what part they play in the development of lupus. Her research is part of a larger study being conducted by her supervisor Dr Michael Beresford who is setting up a nationwide database of childhood lupus patients, who will provide samples of DNA to be used for research purposes.

The Arthritis Research Campaign is the 4th-largest medical research charity in the UK, and funds research into all types of arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions. It currently funds almost £1m of research in Liverpool. The Barbara Ansell Fellowship was set up to commemorate the late Dr Ansell, a leading paediatric rheumatologist, who left a large bequest to the charity to encourage research into childhood types of arthritis.

Bill Shankly to be star attraction on union heritage trail?

FORMER Liverpool FC manager Bill Shankly will be one of the attractions on a union heritage trail being devised as part of Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture year 2008.  The Liverpool great, who died in 1981, is one of the city’s most famous names being considered for the trail, which will take in prominent places and landmarks in the city’s union history. As a firm believer in the trade union movement, the Scottish footballing hero is one of the first pencilled in as plans for the trail take shape.

Liverpool-born trade unionist Jack Jones and figures from the city’s musical and seafaring past are being discussed as possible subjects for the trail by its organisers, who include the TUC, individual unions and artists. An exhibition would be held to feature further details about the people and issues highlighted by the trail.  The trail has been devised as the TUC draws up its Arts and Cultural Strategy. This will be finalised in time for Liverpool’s year as Capital of Culture.

Other plans for Liverpool ’08 being drawn up by the TUC include:

A photograph and short film competition for young people to enter using their mobile phones or disposable cameras. The entries will be exhibited in a gallery and on a website.

A live performance piece created by artists from the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Germany. The piece, called “@ work’’ would be about work and modern-day issues such as migrant workers.

Proposals to commission a professional photographer to capture on film what happens 'behind the scenes' for those working in Merseyside’s museums, theatres and arts venues.

Although this work is set to be completed for Liverpool’s year as Capital of Culture, the TUC’s Arts and Cultural Strategy will be a national project.

The strategy is intended to promote closer links between trade unions and artistic communities. It will examine how Lottery funding can be obtained for future collaborations between the TUC and the arts, including other events for Liverpool ’08.

TUC Regional Secretary, Alan Manning said:- “We want to celebrate working people and the trade union contribution to life and culture in Liverpool and the events that are being planned for Liverpool are being seen as the crucial first stages in the development of the national strategy.”

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