Ulster Transport Museum’s, Museum
of Innovation, Showcases Female Scientist
The Museum of Innovation exhibition
at Ulster Transport Museum, Cultra, has announced its first living ‘Innovator
in Focus’ as Professor Andriana Margariti. A Professor at Queen’s University
Belfast, Professor Margariti is renowned for her ground-breaking research into
stem cells to support regenerative medicine.
The exhibition in Ulster Transport Museum’s
redeveloped Land, Sea and Sky galleries represents new thinking and focuses on
telling a bigger story, with a view to the museum’s transport and
industry collections becoming an engine of STEM learning and skills
development.
The recognition was made after Professor
Margariti’s team became the first in the world to establish that the gene QKI-7
causes cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes. The breakthrough, which
was awarded a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council New
Investigator prize, was assisted by funding from the British Heart Foundation,
Medical Research Council, and the Department for the Economy.
All of the objects on display at
the exhibition and their inventors have contributed in some way to Northern
Ireland’s long and illustrious legacy of innovation. ]
Professor Margariti, who completed
post-Doctoral training at King’s College London in 2008, currently works at the
Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine of Queen’s University
Belfast at Belfast City Hospital. Using stem cell technology, she has developed
a method to investigate a multitude of drugs without direct testing on patients.
It is hoped that this breakthrough could help to transform the future of
healthcare.
Professor Andriana Margariti,
Professor in Vascular and Regenerative Medicine at Queens University Belfast,
said: “I am honoured to be chosen by the Museum of Innovation as its next
Innovator in Focus. I follow in the illustrious footsteps of the female
pioneer, Lilian Bland, and am delighted to have my contributions to stem cell
research recognised.
“Stem cells are vitally
important as they can repair damaged cells. Our research could revolutionise
treatment for people with diabetes, not only for their heart conditions but for
other diabetes related issues such as loss of sight and amputations. Our work
could also be applied to the treatment of organs in the body such as the
kidneys or liver, transforming the lives of those patients and the future of
healthcare in these areas.
“The Museum of Innovation is providing an
essential platform for STEM learning, helping to inspire the field’s future
leaders.”
Clare Ablett, Curator of History at
National Museums NI, who curated the exhibition, added: “We are delighted to
introduce Professor Andriana Margariti as our next, and first living Innovator
in Focus.
“At National Museums NI, we
aspire to enhance learning in schools and beyond and the Museum of Innovation
exhibition showcases the inventions of some of Northern Ireland’s most
extraordinary engineers, designers and innovators. From individuals tinkering
in their garage to industry giants, all have had a role to play.
“Professor Margariti’s
ground-breaking research into stem cells serves as a true inspiration to our
next generation of STEM innovators.”