Glasgow Business . 25 www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com


GLASGOW BUSINESS AWARDS 2014 WINNER


Excellent communications aids cutting-edge research


» Tropical disease research centre shares life-saving work with the world T


he Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology (WTCMP) is a world-leading


research centre into tropical disease. Based within the University of


Glasgow, WTCMP is an international hub for Parasitology and houses the largest group of parasitologists in the world. Te team from the Wellcome


Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow (to give it its full title) won the “Excellence in Communications” category at Te Glasgow Business Awards 2014, sponsored by Bank of Scotland. Key to WTCMP’s operation is


communicating the cuting-edge research work they do into tropical diseases such as Malaria. On an annual basis WTCMP


produces more than 60 peer- reviewed scientific research publications as well as patents and protocols to translate the research into potential drug targets. It currently holds research


awards totalling £26million from funders such as the Medical Research Council, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Union and commercial partners such as Novartis and AstraZeneca. WTCMP’s main product could


be described as original scientific data, education and training in all aspects of tropical disease. It acts as a hub for other scientists and provides services such as bioinformatics and bio screening to the wider scientific community. All this means that to be


effective WTCMP needs to have a truly international


internal communications. Te Wellcome Trust Centre is


active across the full range of social media platforms, including Facebook, Twiter, Instagram and Tumblr. Its tweets are regularly retweeted by the Wellcome Trust to its 55,000 followers. It runs a comprehensive public


engagement programme that includes monthly schools sciences clubs, workshops, the Scotish Encounter with Tropical Disease touring exhibition as well as its Parasite exhibition. WTCMP has produced two


comics/street papers entitled Parasites and Malaria that have been enormously successful in communicating its research message in a fun but informative way. Tey have already been translated into 10 different languages. It uses direct marketing and has


distributed all its educational materials to schools within a 50-mile radius. Prof Andy Waters, WTCMP


Director, said: “Tis is a timely and well-merited recognition of the energetic public engagement and communications programme that has been a hallmark of WTCMP life. “We are renowned in many


Professor Paul Garside and Alex Mackay of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, winner of the Glasgow Business Award 2014 for Excellence in Communications, sponsored by Connect


communications strategy with a worldwide reach – it aims to share its research with the world. WTCMP has in the last year


completely remodelled its website to ensure its message is clear. Web campaigns such as “Parasites on Tour” and the


introduction of digital media campaigns such as “Podcasts from Africa” have heightened WTCMP’s reputation internationally, boosted website traffic and resulted in new partnerships and new initiatives. Te website is also used to boost


circles for our diverse and original activities that seek to engage the public across all walks of life and educate them into the problems we tackle, the reasons why and the ways in which we do it.” Since winning the award,


WTCMP has gone from strength to strength and has already this year secured a further £8.3 million from the Wellcome Trust, allowing it to recruit new senior personnel and a new public engagement manager, Dr Vickie Curtis.


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