| 3 Somerset House – next steps | 5 King’s partners Cheltenham Festivals | 9 Profile: Professor Eeva Leinonen | 16 International partnerships update CommentThe College newsletter Issue no 191 | March 2010 King’s to run anti-doping facility for London 2012 THE COLLEGE HAS FORMED AN doping control, analysing alliance with GlaxoSmithKline samples collected from athletes Cheltenham Festivals launch (GSK) to enable its world competing in major sporting DAVID TETT renowned Drug Control Centre events and training worldwide. to operate a World Anti-Doping Working with UK Sport to Agency (WADA) accredited implement the UK’s anti-doping satellite laboratory during the policy in sport, the Centre London 2012 Olympic and carried out more than 8,000 tests Paralympic Games. across over 70 sports last year. The Centre is well respected internationally and has a proven ‘...excellent science record of successfully delivering can play a key role in analysis services for major games. It was the first human ensuring the Games sports drug-testing laboratory are conducted to established outside of an Olympic Games. the highest ethical There will be thousands of standards.’ samples analysed throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the laboratory will Professor David Cowan, Head be in operation 24 hours a day of the Department of Forensic for the duration. The facility Science & Drug Monitoring will be based at one of GSK’s and Director of the Drug research and development sites Control Centre, will lead the in the UK, offering the capacity partnership between GSK and for King’s to run the laboratory King’s. He played a key role in independently, working with the successful 2012 Olympic the International Olympic bid, and has been involved in Committee and International the science of anti-doping for Paralympic Committee during four Winter Olympic Games, London 2012. two Summer Olympic Games London 2012 Chairman and several Commonwealth Sebastian Coe commented: Games. This partnership was ‘Doping control is a requirement King’s and the Cheltenham Festivals celebrated their new partnership at a launch brokered by King’s Business, the of any Olympic Games and event on the evening of 20 January in the Great Hall, Strand Campus, attended by innovation arm of King’s. Paralympic Games. We have more than 150 guests. King’s will partner all four of this year’s Festivals – science, jazz, literature and music. The launch celebration featured performances from jazz The Drug Control Centre taken a partnership approach trio Curios (pianist Tom Cawley is pictured above). See page 5 for the full story. has a track record in anti- continued on page 2 News King’s to run anti-doping facility Key facts for London 2012 • The Drug Control Centre COURTESY OF GSK was established in 1978 achieve their best are core to with the support of the those of GSK, as we strive to Sports Council, now UK deliver medicines and vaccines Anti-Doping, to analyse that help patients to do more with samples collected from their lives.’ human sports competitors. • There are only 35 accredited anti-doping ‘...we have the capacity laboratories in the world; to be able to help the King’s laboratory is the only one in the UK. protect the health of • The Drug Control Centre the athlete and the has 17 full-time staff; this will increase almost ten- integrity of the Games.’ fold during London 2012. • Analysts test blood and Professor David Cowan, urine samples; each bottle Director of the Drug Control has a unique, anonymous Centre, added: ‘I am delighted identification code. that GlaxoSmithKline has • Urine samples are kept at From left: Lord Coe, Chairman London 2012, Professor David Cowan, Director, Drug Control chosen to make this important -20 degrees Celsius and Centre and Andrew Witty, CEO, GlaxoSmithKline. contribution to our ongoing stored in case additional work at King’s to help deter testing is required. continued from page 1 alliance with King’s College drug cheats from coming to the • Athletes provide ‘A’ and to delivering it for London London together to ensure that London 2012 Olympic and ‘B’ samples. The ‘B’ 2012 and I’m thrilled that excellent science can play a key Paralympic Games. With this sample is only tested if a GlaxoSmithKline is on board and role in ensuring the Games are significant partner we have the prohibited substance is its involvement with the King’s conducted to the highest ethical capacity to be able to help protect found in the ‘A’ sample College London experts will see standards and that athletes can the health of the athlete and the • Samples may be stored world-class facilities available for lead healthier lives,’ said Andrew integrity of the Games.’ for up to eight years in an independently run anti-doping Witty, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline. For further information visit accordance with the operation throughout the Games.’ ‘The Olympic and Paralympic www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/biohealth/ WADA Code. ‘I’m delighted we’ve put this ideals of people striving to research/drugcontrol/ Principal’s column GREG GREG FUNNELL Dear colleagues of being implemented. financial circumstances in which On a lighter note I was pleased Since I last wrote, Lord These are sensitive issues, UK higher education, like the to take part in the launch of Mandleson has announced major so perhaps it was inevitable country as a whole, now finds the Cheltenham Festivals of financial cuts to the English that these consultation itself. science, literature, jazz and university sector. Unwelcome documents have generated I would emphasise that plans music in the Great Hall in as these are they are by no some controversy, not least have been developed in tandem January. The College’s means completely unexpected, in Arts & Humanities. What with the firm intention to make partnership with these Festivals at least at King’s, and I would needs emphasis, internally as significant improvements to the offers a real opportunity to reach like to thank staff for their well as externally, is that the student experience at King’s, new audiences for our research support in tackling unflinchingly College is genuinely seeking, which demands our attention for and scholarship which I would our response to changed within the 90-day period for a variety of reasons at this time of view as a core part of our mission circumstances. each consultation, ideas about rising applications and increasing to work ‘in the service of Every School, and area of viable alternative ways forward. competition. Indeed, we have society’. And judging by the Professional Services, now has These need to achieve required recently approved a substantial extraordinary performances we plans, to ensure our financial and economies in ways that will investment in teaching, audio witnessed at the launch they academic sustainability, which enable the College as far as visual and other student-related will also be a great deal of fun! are either being discussed, out possible to maintain its academic facilities across the College in Rick Trainor for consultation or in the process momentum despite the difficult support of this. Principal 2 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk News Somerset House – next steps ‘King’s has signed an agreement to take possession of the East Wing of Somerset House. It is a moment we have been waiting 180 years for. This is an historic day for the College, student and alumni community.’ THESE WORDS, FROM THE PRINCIPAL Professor Rick Trainor, greeted alumni, staff and students at a spontaneous reception, organised by the Alumni Office, held the day after the milestone agreement was signed with Somerset House last December. ‘A moment we have been waiting 180 years for’ Guests, who gathered at the Strand, were also given an advance preview of the innovative plans for the East Wing, which comprises six floors and more than 50,000sq feet of space. The Principal’s speech and clip reel featuring alumni and staff comments is now on iKing’s, the College’s multimedia gateway. This acquisition will give King’s a new front door, opening up the site to the public, providing a new artistic hub for Londoners, and significantly improved facilities for the School of Law. The agreement has been The East Wing of Somerset House. enthusiastically received by former students, including many famous names: ‘A most important and ‘It’s a wonderful building, exciting new phase’ and it’s great news,’ says award- winning novelist Susan Hill (English 1963). Part of the funding to develop ‘It does now open a most the East Wing will be sought important and exciting new from philanthropic sources, led phase in the life of the College,’ by the Development & Alumni commented His Honour Sir Office. Those interested can Frank White (LLB, 1950). join the Campaign for King’s ‘I’m delighted King’s is finally in Somerset House, see: https:// moving into the 19th century!’ alumni.kcl.ac.uk/somersethouse was the enigmatic remark from A King’s law alumna has Alumni, staff and students at a spontaneous reception to celebrate the signing of Somerset satirist Rory Bremner (Modern established a supportive House last December. Languages, 1984). Facebook site (to which a link ‘I am very proud to hear that can be found at the above web Staff and alumni tours of the East Wing King’s will now be associated address) and between this with such a prominent and and those registered for the Staff and alumni can tour the East Wing answering questions. Organised by dignified London landmark,’ Campaign, almost a 1,000 on ‘Open House’ Saturday (13 March). the Development & Alumni Office; Tours will take place on the hour from booking is required for the tours, wrote Igor Stermsek (Law, 2006) alumni have signed up to show 11.30-15.30, and the architects will be email [email protected] on the Alumni website.