Author JK Rowling was honoured yesterday at the University of Edinburgh, for donating £10 million to fund MS research clinic.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling was honoured on Monday for her extraordinary £10 million donation to fund research at a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) clinic based at the University of Edinburgh.
The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic has been created in memory of Ms Rowling’s mother, Anne, who died from MS at the young age of 45.
The clinic will open in 2013 and will focus on developing treatment. It is hoped that it will come to be known as a world centre of excellence in its field.
Princess Anne awarded the honour to Ms Rowling as her first duty as the eighth Chancellor of the University in over 150 years.
Head of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Professor Sir John Savill, spoke at the ceremony, saying how Ms Rowling’s donation will have a “major impact” on the college, and has already given hope to those affected by the disease.
Sir John explained that Multiple Sclerosis would be the main focus of research at the clinic, but he hopes that people suffering from neurodegeneration diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, will also benefit from research found by the clinic.
“All neurodegenerative disorders are progressive and currently incurable,” said Sir John. “The work we are conducting in these areas could have a profound and lasting effect on hundreds of thousands of patients and their families worldwide.”
Sir John praised Ms Rowling for writing the successful Harry Potter books, and described her donation as a “wonderful and most remarkable act of philanthropy”.
By Bethan Hâf Marsh
[Image courtesy of Beacon Radio]
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