Justin Lester, Wellington City Mayor, visits the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute
From left: Dr Swee Tan, Mayor Justin Lester and GMRI Chair, Paul Baines
I was delighted to visit Dr Swee Tan, Paul Baines and the team at the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute in February. I found the visit a valuable experience in understanding some of the background to important and internationally significant scientific breakthroughs that are happening in the health space. I am very proud to say that this work is happening in our own city.
I have no doubt that the GMRI team’s research into gaining a greater understanding of the causes of life-threatening diseases and disfiguring conditions – such as strawberry birthmarks – will bring relief and the possibility of better outcomes to the lives of parents and children around the world.
As a parent myself, I have a personal connection with one particular element of the GMRI’s work. One of my own daughters was born prematurely with an ear deformity, so our family has some idea of the benefits of this type of research.
To attempt to find a cure for cancer is amongst the most ambitious of human endeavours, so it is easy to see why the work Dr Tan and his colleagues are doing has been labelled an international paradigm shift. I wish Dr Tan and the GMRI team all the best in the development of a prototype for cancer treatment.
Justin Lester
