NewcastleGateshead medical research attracts European Association

NewcastleGateshead is set to host the international European Thyroid Association (ETA) in September 2018 – an event secured on the back of the destination’s strengths in science and healthcare as well as its historic links to the development of Thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

The Association will see 900 delegates from across Europe descend on NewcastleGateshead for their 41st Annual Meeting, pumping an estimated £1.1m into the local economy. The meeting is to be held at Sage Gateshead for the five-day conference.

Prior to this, the British Thyroid Association will hold its 64th Annual Meeting at the Centre for Life in May 2016. The British Thyroid Association’s special commemorative meeting marks the 125th anniversary of the discovery of Thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

Simon Pearce, Professor of Endocrinology at Newcastle University, said: "In 1891, a young Newcastle doctor, Dr. George Murray, injected an extract from a sheep’s thyroid gland into a patient with symptoms of thyroid under-activity. Over a period of months, the patient got much better, and now 125 years later around 3% of the whole population takes thyroid medicines. Considering the idea of a ‘hormone’ hadn't been invented at this time and Dr. Murray made a remarkable medical advance that millions of people continue to benefit from.

"Due to Newcastle's history and excellence in medical research and through the support the NewcastleGateshead Conference Ambassador Programme we were able to bid for and win both the British and European Thyroid Associations. We look forward to welcoming delegates from both Associations to the city where we will play tribute to Murray's life-changing medical discovery."

Paul Szomoru, head of business tourism at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, said: “We are delighted to be hosting both the British and European Thyroid Associations. NewcastleGateshead is internationally renowned for life sciences, healthcare and sustainability. We’re proud of our history and the industry leading research which is happening today in our city. Through our Conference Ambassador Programme we were able to support Simon in bidding for and bringing both of these significant events to the destination.”

Newcastle is one of six designated UK Science Cities. The destination is recognised for its strengths in ageing, biomedicine and clinical trials as well as having an extensive pharmaceutical cluster, accounting for 1/3 of the UK’s turnover in pharmaceuticals. Newcastle Hospitals also undertook the UK’s largest number of clinical trials in 2015.

NewcastleGateshead has cutting-edge facilities including the International Centre for Life and Newcastle University Institute for Ageing (NUIA), the largest facility of its kind in Europe. Newcastle University has also been awarded £20m by the government to establish the National Centre for Ageing Science and Innovation.

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