Sir David Henshaw and Professor Dame Janet Beer
The Children’s Research Fund has today (Monday, 22 January) transformed the future of paediatric health research in Liverpool by establishing a legacy worth £800,000 for a partnership between the University of Liverpool and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
The fund, founded by Dr Hugh Greenwood OBE, has supported both the University and Alder Hey for 50 years, contributing to construction of facilities which have brought together experts in education, research and technology, as well as supporting a multitude of research projects.
The gift of £800,000, from the new ‘Hugh Greenwood Legacy for Children’s Health Research’, will help to further advance child health research over the next five years and will build on partnership working between the University of Liverpool and Alder Hey, focusing on key priorities in children’s health research.
‘Wonderful legacy’
The donation was made at a special event held at the Institute in the Park, a facility dedicated to improving the health of children around the world through research, innovation and education, guests heard from Sir David Henshaw, Alder Hey Chair, University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Janet Beer DBE, Professor Matthew Peak, Alder Hey’s Director of Research and Professor of Child Health Michael Beresford. Each speaker provided an overview of the existing partnership, recent achievements and how each organisation looks forward to strengthening research collaboration through this significant investment.
Professor Dame Janet Beer, Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool, said: “I would like to thank the fund and the family of the late Hugh Greenwood for this incredible, sustained contribution to the regional, national and international child health knowledge economy. This generosity brings hope to the lives of children and their families across the world. Hugh Greenwood was an inspirational man with a determined passion for improving children’s health and this wonderful legacy will support continued vital work in this area.
“Liverpool’s leadership in the area of child health research is outstanding, and is continuing to grow. The partnership approach taken by the University and Alder Hey has been fundamental to this success. Our joint vision with Alder Hey is, through research, teaching and innovation, to provide a world-class, child-focussed centre of expertise that is internationally competitive, to improve the health, well-being and outcomes for babies, children and young people locally, nationally and internationally.”
Pioneering new treatments
Sir David Henshaw, Chair of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital said: “We are extremely grateful to the family of the late Hugh Greenwood for their long standing support and incredibly generous donation to children’s research. Alder Hey is a leading Centre for paediatric research and this donation will be invaluable as we continue to develop pioneering new treatments that will improve the health of children everywhere.
“Working together with partners such as the University of Liverpool is enabling us to make a significant contribution to the future health of children and young people across the world, driving research in children’s medicines, infection, childhood cancer, inflammation and international child health. Continued investment, including the development of our Institute in the Park facility, will position Alder Hey and Liverpool as a national and international leader in children’s health research, innovation and education.”