Four of Scotland's premier universities will fly the flag for the country's life sciences industry during the annual Tartan Day celebrations in the US this week.
In a unique collaboration, the universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow will present a specially created seminar in Cambridge, Massachusetts to showcase how Scotland's transatlantic partnerships are helping tackle global health issues.
Finance Minister Tom McCabe MSP will lead a top-flight line-up of internationally renowned scientists and clinicians for the one-day event entitled "Health of Nations: Scotland and America defining life science partnerships" at the Hotel Marlowe, Cambridge on April 4, 2005.
The seminar will be attended by scientists, health care professionals, researchers and bio-tech industry influencers and opinion formers.
Mr McCabe said: “There is absolutely no doubt Scotland is a world leader in life sciences, we have a proud tradition of innovation and discovery from penicillin to Dolly the sheep. This seminar is an unprecedented opportunity for some of our leading experts in life sciences to showcase their expertise in the US.
“The Executive is pleased to support this unique collaboration involving Aberdeen and three other leading universities. Events like these help the global scientific community build links, which may one day lead to collaborative discoveries and save lives - that is what life sciences is all about.
“Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a global hub for life sciences and this will specially-organised event will give Aberdeen and the other Universities the chance to strengthen the links they already have while hopefully securing new business opportunities."
The event is being presented through the offices of Scottish Development International and sponsored by the Scottish Executive.
The universities formed a small planning group last year in response to a request from the Executive and since then been working together on the arrangements for the US event.
A spokesperson for the universities group said: "We hope that this exciting and dynamic collaboration will help strengthen the long-standing intellectual connections between Scotland and the US which reach back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
"Our life sciences industry is one of the most vibrant in Europe employing over 25,000 people and is underpinned by a globally recognised academic base. Our message is clear: our research is world class and we are a pro-active gateway to Europe for US partners and companies."
One of the speakers at the seminar will be Wendy Graham, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Aberdeen. Professor Graham is the Principal Investigator of IMMPACT, a seven-year, global research initiative to improve maternal survival in developing countries.
IMMPACT partners are located in developing countries across Africa and Asia, and in Europe and the United States. The project is endorsed by twelve international agencies and is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Department for International Development, USAID, and the
European Commission.
Professor Graham said: "Every minute of every day, at least one woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth. Virtually all these deaths occur in the developing world and most are preventable. There is no quick fix or magic bullet to this global health burden and global responsibility. I will be highlighting the power of partnerships to reduce maternal mortality and the roles of the Scottish and American agencies tackling this vital issue."
The University of Aberdeen delegation will also include Professor Stephen Logan, Senior Vice-Principal and Dr Alistair Mair, Chancellor’s Assessor and Senior Lay Member of the University Court.
The event will end of a cultural note with an evening reception for delegates and alumni for all four universities featuring music by the award-winning Scottish jazz pianist Brian Kellock, an Edinburgh University music graduate who has performed across Europe, Australia and the US.