Chris Hoy launches pioneering new Sick Kids unit

Published on Thursday 23 April 2009 09:45

A PIONEERING new research unit at Edinburgh's Sick Kids Hospital has been given the gold seal of approval by city cycling hero Sir Chris Hoy.

The four-time Olympic gold medallist visited the hospital to open the facility which will work to improve treatment for children with leukaemia, asthma, cystic fibrosis and other conditions.

During his visit, Sir Chris met children and families affected by these diseases, including 14-year-old Jordan McKinlay, from Easter Road, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was two years old.

Sir Chris said: "I am delighted to have been asked to open this important new facility.

"This new unit will help deliver the kind of breakthroughs that will make a massive difference to the lives of children and families now and in the future."

Jordan, a second-year pupil at Leith Academy, told Sir Chris how he has volunteered to join a research study that will test the effectiveness of gene therapy in cystic fibrosis patients. He said: "I definitely believe that this could help people with cystic fibrosis. Even if it doesn't help me – and I know there is that chance – it's important to try in case it helps someone else."

After 12 years of treatment, Jordan still suffers from severe coughing attacks and has difficulty maintaining a healthy body weight, meaning he has to be fed directly into his stomach through a tube.

He added: "I've been keeping well recently, but sometimes it is hard because people don't know much about cystic fibrosis. The other kids don't always understand why I can't play sports, so I always have to explain myself and that can be quite difficult."

Jordan's mother, Julie Shanks, 41, is also enthusiastic about the potential of the new unit.

She said: "We felt that taking part in the research was a really important thing to do. It may not help Jordan himself because his lungs have already been damaged but, in the long run, if it leads to a treatment it could make a real difference to the lives of children in the future.

"I've got another son who, although he doesn't have cystic fibrosis himself, could carry the gene that causes it and pass it on to his children. If this research can help someone else down the line, it's important for us to do what we can."

Professor Robert Minns, from Edinburgh University, who has led the development of the unit, said: "Sir Chris was very popular with the children and very interested in the work of the unit.

"This unit will bring together all research projects involving children, in a dedicated area, with experienced staff and state-of-the-art equipment, in a children's hospital environment. It will encourage and enable clinical research to be done."

&#149 www.edinburghsickkids.org