The Francesca Gunn Laboratory - September 1994
The Francesca Gunn Laboratory was officially opened on 15 September 1994 by Bryan & Susan Gunn. It was initially under the supervision and
guidance of Dr Ian Gibson, was led by Dr Helen James for three years and is now led by Prof Dylan Edwards
The initial research carried out by the laboratory was based on the study of a class of molecules called ribozymes. These, in effect, can act
like molecular scissors. They have the ability to specifically recognise other(RNA) molecules, bind (or stick) to them and cut them in two. This
then renders the target molecules useless, thus destroying the information they carry. This in turn should alter the behaviour of any cell within
which this happens, ideally either killing the cell or resulting in a different behaviour.
A number of projects, supported by the Bryan Gunn Appeal and described in a little more detail below , studied various aspects of ribozyme
biology. The appeal has also had the support of Norwich North MP Ian Gibson, former Dean of the School of Biological Sciences and leader of the
research team when it started. And it's a project that fills him with as much pride and motivation today as it did then.
Dr Ian Gibson, formerly Dean of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia "The Bryan Gunn Appeal has been of major importance in the
development of cancer research in Norfolk and Norwich, and at the UEA in particular.
It's funding of the Francesca Gunn Laboratory and other studies has allowed our work in Norwich to reach international status. We are just very
grateful to see research into leukaemia benefiting from the support of the Gunns," he said.
"It was a way to commemorate Francesca - to set up a laboratory which would be there forever, looking into the causes and cures of
leukaemia. But it has come a long way since then.
It has international respect now - and long may that continue. I'm sure we will soon see improvements in the detection, care and treatment of
cancer patients, and in particular leukaemia.
Bryan and Susan turned a personal disaster into something that has contributed so much to other people; they have helped raise the profile of
research at the UEA, and have cemented a great relationship between football and scientific research."
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