HRH The Duke of York brings Pitch@Palace Tour to the University of Glasgow

Published: 9 February 2016

HRH The Duke of York was welcomed to the University of Glasgow by The Principal as part of his Pitch@Palace initiative.

HRH The Duke of York was welcomed today (Tuesday 9th February) to the University of Glasgow by The Principal as part of his Pitch@Palace initiative.Pitch@Palace

Prince Andrew, referred to in Scotland as the Earl of Inverness, was visiting the university as part of a Pitch@Palace on Tour event, which supports the amplification and acceleration of business ideas from Biotech Entrepreneurs across the UK, by offering access to a transformative community of leading CEOs and international partners.

The Duke of York was welcomed to the University of Glasgow and formally introduced by the Principal and Vice-Chanecellor Professor Anton Muscatelli.

Professor Muscatelli, said: “I am delighted to welcome HRH the Duke of York to the University of Glasgow. As an institution that prides itself on producing world-changing ideas and research, we are pleased to be hosting HRH’s Pitch@Palace entrepreneurial event.

“This event is designed to highlight the work of innovative biotech start-up companies, so hosting it at the University of Glasgow, which is home to cutting edge research and technologies, was a natural fit.”

HRH The Duke of York was later taken on a tour of some of the world-leading facilities within the University of Glasgow’s College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences.

The tour was led by Professor Anna Dominiczak, Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, and was joined by Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Anton Muscatelli as well as Professor Sir Kenneth Calman, Chancellor of the University of Glasgow and Deputy Lieutenant of the City of Glasgow.

The tour included a visit to the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences as well as the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation.

Professor Dominiczak, said: “We were delighted to welcome HRH the Duke of York to the University of Glasgow’s College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, to offer him an insight into the ground-breaking research work we are doing here.

“The college is home to world leading institutes and centres, which are home to scientists at the forefront of medical and life sciences research. It was a pleasure to introduce HRH to some of the work that we are carrying out here is of world-leading quality.”

HRH was taken on a tour of the Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, where he met Professor Rhian Touyz, Director of Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences and British Heart Foundation Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine. He also met with Professor Eleanor Davies, the Professor of Endocrinology.

Later HRH was taken to the Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation where he was introduced to the institute director, Professor Iain McInnes. The Prince also visited the Rheumatoid Arthritis Pathogenesis Centre of Excellence (RACE) as well as the GlAZgo Discovery Centre.GraemeMilligan

The Pitch@Palace event showcased some of Scotland’s most promising Biotech entrepreneurs, including a pitch from Professor Graeme Milligan from the Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, about his company Caldan Therapeutics Ltd, and one from University of Glasgow students on their dementia-aiding packaging MindMate. After the event Professor Milligan was awarded a place at the Pitch@Palace Boot Camp in February.

Professor Milligan, whose company Caldan Therapeutics is developing novel therapeutics targeting free fatty acid receptors for Type 2 Diabetes, said: “I’m taking in part in Pitch@Palace for two reasons. The first reason is to raise the profile of Caldan Therapeutics and, the second reason, as we move forward we may need some more investment.”


Media Enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk / 0141 330 6557 or 0141 330 4831

First published: 9 February 2016