College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine

Anne Rowling Clinic opens

The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic has been opened by University Chancellor, HRH The Princess Royal.

The clinic was established with a £10m donation from Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling.

It is named after the author’s mother, who died of multiple sclerosis aged 45.

Anne Rowling Clinic

I am moved and elated to see the Anne Rowling Clinic formally opened today by HRH The Princess Royal. Having observed the plans for the Clinic develop and expand to fulfil the needs of patients, clinicians and researchers, I am now very proud to see the building finished and operating as the beating heart of this centre for excellence. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in its creation and operation.

Ms Rowling

Ambition

In time we expect to be able to translate laboratory discoveries into real benefits for patients.

Professor Charles ffrench-Constantco-Director of the Clinic and Director of University’s MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine

Patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases will benefit from the Clinic, which aims to target discovery of treatments that will slow progression of neurodegenerative diseases, with the ultimate ambition of repairing damage.

Researchers at the clinic will study progressive, incurable conditions including multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, as well as autism and early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Centre of excellence

The Princess Royal and Ms Rowling were given a tour of the Clinic during which staff and students demonstrated the facilities on offer to patients and their families.

We are delighted to officially open this Clinic. All patients with these tough diseases need treatments that will slow, stop and ideally reverse damage. The Anne Rowling Clinic will pioneer discovery science and innovative clinical research through strong partnerships with the NHS, academia and industry around the world.

Professor Siddharthan ChandranProfessor of Neurology and co-Director of the Clinic