MP pairs with scientist for slice of life in the lab

Andrew Slaughter joins Dr Mark Ungless as part of Royal Society MP-scientist pairing scheme - News

By Laura Gallagher
Monday 22 January 2006

A local MP was given a taste of the scientific world this month when he spent a day in the labs with an Imperial College researcher.

Andrew Slaughter MP visited Imperial neuroscientist Dr Mark Ungless  at the College's Hammersmith Hospital campus, part of Mr Slaughter’s Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush constituency. The two were paired as part of the Royal Society's MP-scientist pairing scheme, which aims to build bridges between some of the UK's best researchers and members of parliament.

Dr Ungless, from the Clinical Sciences Centre, researches a chemical messenger known as dopamine, which is found in the brain. He is investigating dopamine neurons and the long-term effect on them of addictive drugs, which activate the dopamine system.

The researcher showed Mr Slaughter a variety of labs and equipment, and introduced the MP to many of his colleagues. Mr Slaughter took a look at a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner which is used to investigate the underlying neural mechanisms in psychiatric disorders. He also had the chance to look down various microscopes to view close-ups of cells for anatomical experiments.

Dr Ungless said that he wanted Mr Slaughter's visit on 12 January to demonstrate the variety of research being carried out in the Clinical Sciences Centre.

Dr Ungless said: "A real range of work goes on in the Clinical Sciences Centre, from single cells through to whole brain imaging in humans. I hope that Andy learned that much interesting and important science is being carried out in his constituency. I hope also that he learned about some of the struggles that scientists face, not just when trying to make scientific breakthroughs, but also with the practicalities of pursuing their careers in science."

The men's roles were reversed in November 2006, when Dr Ungless spent four days with Mr Slaughter at the House of Commons, to find out about the MP's work. Dr Ungless toured the House of Commons and the House of Lords, watching debates in both houses, and met members of the Science and Technology Select Committees.

Dr Ungless added: "I think what was most surprising to me was the direct access we had to those who are influencing and forming science policy. I suppose I didn't have a clear idea about how science fits in at parliament and now I feel I have a better grasp of the structure of the various committees and the ways in which science policy could be formed."

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