New partnership to redevelop heart research exhibit
Glasgow Science Centre has this week welcomed funding from the NHS Golden Jubilee Charity and the Scottish Extracorporeal Resuscitation Network to redevelop a Heart Research Capsule within their science centre’s Bodyworks Exhibition.
This collaborative project between the three organisations will aim to engage public audiences on the history, current technology and future of transplantation in Scotland – and to celebrate the success of the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital, which is at the forefront of cardiac failure treatment and transplantation in the UK.
The announcement comes during Organ Donation Week in the UK, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation and the need to increase the number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
The project will build upon and enhance the existing ‘Mending your Broken Heart’ Research Capsule within the Bodyworks Exhibition, which was originally launched in 2013 – before many major breakthroughs in technologies to support cardiac patients.
At a time when the number of people on the waitlist for organ transplants is on the increase, it is hoped that the refreshed exhibit will bring a renewed focus on this important topic.
Commenting after the announcement, Glasgow Science Centre’s Exhibition and Project Manager Jenny Galbraith said:
“We are delighted to be working with NHS Golden Jubilee Charity and the Scottish Extracorporeal Resuscitation Network on this exciting new project.
“The redevelopment of our Heart Research Capsule will help bring to life the incredible advances being made in transplantation and cardiac care in Scotland, while highlighting the people, research and innovation behind these life-saving treatments.”
Philip McCall, Consultant in Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at NHS Golden Jubilee said: “At NHS Golden Jubilee, we see first-hand the transformative difference that organ donation and advanced cardiac treatments can make to patients and their families. This partnership with Glasgow Science Centre provides a unique opportunity to share that story with the public, showcasing the remarkable progress that has been made in transplantation and cardiac care.
“By bringing these innovations to life through an interactive exhibit, we hope to inspire greater understanding of organ donation and highlight the expertise, research and teamwork that underpin these life-saving treatments.”
Louise Hartley from the Scottish Extracorporeal Resuscitation Network said:
“The Scottish Extracorporeal Resuscitation Network, established in 2021, is a charity focused on enhancing understanding, and making best use of, extracorporeal life support (a type of "heart & lung machine’) in the prevention of death from acute circulatory failure.
“This support is used to treat the most critically unwell patients and is often used to “bridge” patients to life-saving heart or lung transplants.
“We are excited to be collaborating on this project, highlighting the fantastic work done in Scotland and encouraging the next generation as they visit Glasgow Science Centre.”
ENDS
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