The Student Newspaper of Imperial College 1 U U 1 il Issue 953 15 January 1993 Imperial Alzheimers Breakthrough by Declan Curry later life. Dr Roberts' team at St. An Imperial researcher has Mary's have been investigating a predicted that a cure for Alzheimers possible link between Alzheimers disease may soon be discovered. Dr disease and head trauma by Gareth Roberts, Senior Lecturer in studying observations from 16 head Anatomy and Cell Biology at St injury cases. Mary's Hospital Medical School, Speaking on IC Radio, Dr was commenting on this week's Roberts said that brain neurons research breakthrough which shows which are first affected by the why and where of the disease. Alzheimers disease tend to contain Alzheimers disease currently more beta amyloid precursor affects almost 350,000 people in the protein than other neurons in United Kingdom. The disease has different parts of the cortex. been known to develop in a person Additional amounts of the protein in their early fifties, and those are produced around the age of above eighty are at a higher risk of fifty, when the neurons undergo developing the dementia. Dr 'resprouting'. Dr Roberts claimed Roberts' research links the onset on that the combination of the the degenerative brain disease with additional protein with the existing head injury and old age. protein 'triggers the disease This week's research focuses on process', and described the the presence in the brain of a small resprouting period as 'the critical molecule known as beta amyloid time for developing the disease'. precursor protein. This protein Dr Roberts said that the research by Gareth Light, problems and would resolve the normally helps repair and maintain had 'pulled together a lot of threads News Editor. difficulties that the current nerve connections in the cortex and really focused our attention on Chris Davidson,Imperial College organisation suffers from. region of the brain. According to Dr controlling the protein'. When Union President, invited members In an interview with Felix, Mr Roberts, Alzheimers disease may asked about a possible cure, he said of the University of London Davidson said that he 'definitely be caused by the presence of too that 'people are actively identifying General Union Council (GUC) to wasn't drunk,' and that he 'made much of this protein in the brain. compounds even as we speak, and join with the Imperial College some valid points' at the meeting. Beta amyloid precursor protein is great strides forwards would be Union in a breakaway council with At the last Imperial College Union produced if the head suffers a expected any day now'. himself as chairman. Mr Davidson Council meeting - when questioned serious injury, or if the head is The research has been welcomed was reported by several senior about his comments by a Felix repeatedly damaged. Such injury or by Alzheimers sufferers support sabbaticals of other Unversity of reporter - he is reported as saying damage is known as head trauma, groups. Clive Evers, of the London Colleges to have been that he spoke against a ULU motion an everyday event which results in Alzheimers Disease Society, said drunk when he made the statement. on the break-up of the University over 100,000 hospital admissions in the work was 'significant' in Mr Davidson was reported to be of London because he considered the United Kingdom every year. developing the understanding of the extremely critical of the level of the motion premature. Mr Davidson Long term survivors of head link between Alzheimers disease debate in the GUC, saying that it said that no firm proposal for trauma, such as boxers, have high and the aging process. "The one risk was 'inaccessible' to its members, defederalisation was on the table. levels of beta amyloid precursor factor we do know about in relation and so did not serve its purpose. He He has made no comment on the protein in the brain, and many of to Alzheimers disease is the aging allegedly claimed that the new GUC breakaway Council since. these develop forms of dementia in process,' he said. would not suffer from the same 6/7 9 11 12/13 Rag How many Out of the Xmas music warm-up broken? fire round-up News 15 January 1993 Felix 953 Dentist opens up petro) fund Last Friday saw the opening of the basement of 14 Princes Imperial College's first Dental Gardens, below the Health Centre. The petroleum conglomerate Esso lecturers in chemical, petrolium or Surgery. Running the clinic will be Access can be gained from the have announced a £270,000 mechanical engineering at UK Dental Surgeon, Mrs Rosalie Szasz. pavement outside the Health education award scheme designed higher education institutions. The The service will be operated from Centre. to encourage able young fellowships take the form of a engineering lecturers to remain in personal supplement to salary along the higher education sector in the, with the oppertunity to work with Crime week at IC early years of their careers. Esso. Next week, is 'Crime Week' at and 4 pm for the whole of next The Esso Engineering Teaching Six Fellowships a year will be Imperial. In response to the rising week. Along with the post-codeing Fellowships are available on a awarded for the next five years, levels of petty and more serious will be an exhibition of how competative basis, to young each one worth £9000. offenses occuring on the campus, individuals can prevent petty crime college security - in conjunction in the home. with the Police - will be post coding D locks for securing pedal cycles pedal cycles, in Imperial College are also now available from the Fees cut for growth The marking of bikes will take security office, or from all good place in the ante room of the bike shops. Universities in Britain have never the total amount of money received Sherfield building, between 10 been so well off, according to new by the institutions. figures released by the Department In other changes, the level of fees Biology changes for Education. received by the funding council for The Higher Education Funding science based courses has remained In a change in power at the top of spread and action of HIV and AIDS Council will receive £3.8 billion constant. The Department for the department of Biology, the in the human population. He will pounds to spend on educational Education claims this should college has approved the suceed the Vice Chancellor of institutions. Fees are to be reduced, encourage a growth in the number appointment of Professor MP Oxford, Sir Richard Southwood but the Department hopes that the of places in technology courses. Hassel FRS as head of the Joining the team running the recent explosion of students Imperial College stands to benefit department in succession to department of Biology, as Deputy attending Universities will not cut from the move. Professor RM Andrson FRS. Head, will be Dr BA Djamgoz. Professor Anderson will be Both appointments come into effect moving to Oxford University to on 1 January this year, and become the Linacre Professor of potentially run until 31 August IC gains 4.4 with UFC Zoology. Professor Anderson is 1998. best known for his study of the by Declan Curry Mary's Hospital Medical School The results of the 1992 Research were singled out for 'particular Assessment Exercise, carried out by excellence in research above the the now- deceased Universities overall rating'. This excellence was Funding Council (UFC), give demonstrated in General Practice, Imperial College a weighted Hepatology, and Infectious and average score of 4.4 out of a Tropical Diseases. The Department STEVIE maximum of 5. Departments in of General Practice includes the Science and Engineering clock up new Lisson Grove Social Security an average of 4.9, on the 1-5 scale. Benefits Programme, developed by The scores for individual Professor Brian Jarman, OBE, and departments or units have been currently used at 800 sites by an published by Sir Eric Ash, College estimated 3,000 users. The General Rector. Biological Sciences, Practice Department is also Chemistry, Physics, and Applied currently running a 'comprehensive Mathematics all score a maximum and independent national survey' of five, as do Computer Science, 5,000 patients, with answers General Engineering, Chemical helping hospital staff meet standards Engineering, Civil Engineering, set out in the Patient's Charter. Electrical and Electronic The UFC results follow the Engineering, Mechanical, publication last October of the Aeronautical and Production Times Good University Guide. The Engineering, Mineral and Mining Times ranked Imperial College Engineering, and Metallurgy and third nationally, after Cambridge Materials. and Oxford respectively. Imperial's Four points have been awarded to overall score of 801 out of 1,000 asp Biochemistry, Earth Sciences, Pure included 70 out of 85 on library Mathematics, Statistics and spending, 33 out of 55 on college IMPERIAL COLLEGE UNION Operational Research, and accommodation, and 32 out of 80 Environmental Studies. The lowest on teaching. The Times survey College score for individual units, ranked Imperial first nationally for FRIDAY 15th JANUARY that of three points, has been research, sciences, and engineering, DOORS OPEN 8.00pm awarded to Management and while the College was not ranked Business Studies, Clinical in the national top ten table for LATE BAR & DISCO Laboratory Sciences, Community- medicine. 1 based Clinical Sciences, Hospital- The UFC was reformed as the TICKKTS £2.00 or £1.00 with EntsCard based Clinical Subjects, Pre- Higher Education Funding Council I ROM IMPERIALCOLLEGE UNION OFFICE clinical Studies, and History. at the start of this academic year. NEAREST TUBE : SOUTH KENSINGTON Three areas of research at St. Page 2 Felix 953 15 JanuarOpinioy 1993n Editorial Calcutt read them, even at Imperial College Monopolies and Mergers limit, and the price, just a little bit It is terrifying for me and a few I have no difficulty believing that commision for more than a 20% of self confidence.