LFC legend David Fairclough praised the initiative that is the first of its kind in the country
David Fairclough at the University of Liverpool
David Fairclough at the University of Liverpool(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool FC legend David Fairclough paid tribute to the spirit of Liverpool as the city took a remarkable step forward in the field of science this week. Gathering at the Yoko Ono Lennon Centre on Oxford Street in the city centre, the former goal scorer joined some of the city's biggest brains to welcome a new initiative backed by the World Health Organisation which is the first of its kind in the UK.
The University of Liverpool launched the first Liverpool Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Centre (LINC) - a world-leading research hub uniting brain and mind research to tackle urgent neurological, neurosurgical, psychiatric, and brain health challenges. Based at the University of Liverpool, LINC is a partnership with The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Brain Health Northwest (which also includes Mersey Care and Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust) and is responsive to the WHO’s strategic objectives.
Along with its international collaborators, LINC positions Liverpool as a global leader in neuroscience, advancing both research and healthcare delivery.
This impressive move to bring the best minds under one roof to collaborate in research and medicine was a sign of what Liverpool stands for, Professor Ben Michael told the ECHO. Leading the initiative, Professor Michael said: "I think I'm right in saying that every other university in the country keeps its brain departments and mind departments separate, and often competing for funding.
"I've been in Liverpool for quite a while now and it's the kind of spirit Liverpool has that really made this possible. It's taken us three years to get thought that sort of consultation process, but people have wanted to work together because they see the merit and the benefits. We can do more better and faster as a team."
David Fairclough has supported The Walton Centre for more than a decade and was at the event to continue his public support of the hospital. He became involved with The Walton Centre following the sudden death of his wife Jan in April 2011.
Jan died at The Walton Centre three days after suffering a brain aneurysm at home. A statement on the Reds' website said: “Jan was not only a beautiful woman, she was a great mother and supporter of Liverpool FC and the Club's TV channel, LFC TV, where her husband and daughter both work.”
Professor Benedict Michael
Professor Benedict Michael(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Since Jan's death, David has become a patron of The Walton Centre with children Sophie and Tom. Speaking to the ECHO at the event earlier this week, he said: "It's quite emotional, you never forget what's happened but it brings her profile back. It's hard to say, but she's very much here with us.
"We've said through the years, if you're ill there are worse cities you could be in than Liverpool. We're leaders in healthcare with the services and centres we have. We're a European leader so we're not in a bad spot in that sense.
"It shouldn't be a surprise Liverpool is involved in the type of attitude that brings together these people. We know through lots of things that have gone on before that people here are very good at supporting each other and coming together.
"The You'll Never Walk Alone anthem couldn't be more suited to any city other city in the world."
Speaking about what this means for the city and for healthcare going forward, Professor Michael said the "future is bright" as teams collaborate to speed up potential treatments.
He said: "The future is bright, the future is looking exciting. There's a lot of patients that fall between the cracks and I think we're going to be able to offer new ways of diagnosing and new ways of treating patients with brain health conditions.
"The way we do that is partly in the lab, discovering new techniques to make diagnoses, and it's partly how we get at the biology that drives these problems so we can find new drugs. It's also, partly, how we work with policymakers to change guidelines and change practice on the ground."