College of Medicine, Swansea University - 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014 History in the making - BEACON
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College of Medicine, Swansea University 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014 History in the making www.medicine.swansea.ac.uk
Contents
01 09
Vision 10 years of success
02 10
Highlights Learning and teaching
06 18
Rising to the challenge Research
07 30
From vision to reality Enterprise and innovation
36
Making an impact
38
Towards 2020
40
Get in touch
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College of Medicine, Swansea University
01 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014 Vision
History in the making
We train tomorrow’s doctors
and life scientists in an
environment offering an
interdisciplinary approach to
translational medicine, from
basic science to healthcare
delivery, and an innovative
approach to building the
knowledge economy.
College of Medicine, Swansea University
02 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014 Highlights
History in the making
The long and the short of it
The College of Medicine has come a long way in a short
time and is now acknowledged as one of the fastest
growing medical schools in the UK. The journey started
with small incremental steps. Momentum gathered.
It is now in full stride.
1960s 2001
1980s
In the 1980s EPSRC sites its UK National
Mass Spectrometry Service Centre at
Swansea University
becomes one of the
first Institutions in
the UK to offer BSc
Genetics degrees.
Swansea University
establishes a Clinical
School under the
leadership of
Professor Julian
Swansea University Hopkin.
1970s
Genetics and 2003
Biochemistry The original concept
2004
departments for the Institute of Life
develop at Swansea Science (ILS) is
University. captured on a napkin
in a New York diner.
In 2004 the Clinical School develops into 1980s
a School of Medicine EPSRC sites its UK 2004
National Mass The Clinical School
Spectrometry develops into a
Service Centre at School of Medicine,
2006
Swansea University, welcoming the first
boosting an existing cohort of Graduate
centre of excellence. Entry Programme
(GEP) students.
In 2006 The Blue C Supercomputer is
given a permanent home at Swansea 1990s
University Swansea University 2005
founds a Building work on
Postgraduate ILS begins with a
Medical School. groundbreaking
ceremony featuring
local school children.
2006
The Blue C
Supercomputer is
given a permanent
home at Swansea
University as part
of a high profile
collaboration with
IBM.
2007 The Ibadan Swansea
ILS1 opens its doors Partnership wins
for business with the second prize in the
Boots Centre for Tropical Health and
Innovation (BCI) as Education Trust (THET)
its flagship tenant. Health Links
competition.
American Astronaut
of Welsh descent, Professor Gareth
Dafydd Rhys Morgan takes over
Williams, presents to leadership of the
school children and School of Medicine.
scientists at ILS.
The School of
The School of Medicine hosts its
Medicine partners first Christmas Ball for
ILS
with the School of staff and students.
Medicine in the
Gambia to establish 2009
the Swansea-Gambia Medical student ILS1 opens its doors for business in 2007
link with support from Nathan West is
the Tropical Health selected as the first
and Education Trust student to receive the
2008
(THET). Mullany Prize for
Excellence.
2008
Prime Minister Swansea and Bro
Morgannwg NHS The School of Medicine enjoys spectacular
Gordon Brown visits
Trusts combine and results as part of the Research Assessment
ILS during his term
are granted University Exercise (RAE2008)
of office.
Hospital status to
First Minister for become Abertawe Bro
1st
Wales, Rt Hon Rhodri Morgannwg University
Morgan, describes Health Board.
ILS as the ’jewel in
the crown of Wales’. Swansea University
partners with the NHS
Medical student Nathan West is selected
The School of to secure significant
as the first student to receive the Mullany
Medicine enjoys funding for a second
Prize for Excellence
spectacular results as phase of the ILS.
part of the Research
Assessment Exercise
(RAE2008).
College of Medicine, Swansea University
04 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014 Highlights
History in the making
2009 ILS launches the
£21m
The centre for NanoHealth is developed,
a joint initiative worth £21 million
The Schools of
Medicine and
Engineering
collaborate to
develop the Centre
Affiliate Membership
Scheme to encourage
life science and
healthcare companies
to access the
expertise and state-of-
for NanoHealth, a
joint initiative worth the-art facilities.
£21 million.
100%
ILS establishes
The first cohort of E-Health Industries
students begins Innovation (EHi2)
studying on the Centre with grants
Graduate Entry Medicine students achieve Graduate Entry worth nearly half a
100% pass rate in 2010 Medicine (GEM) million pounds.
programme entirely
at Swansea Graduate Entry
University. Medicine students
£17.3m
achieve 100% pass
The Haemostasis rate.
Biomedical Research
Construction work begins on the Data
Unit is opened at 2011
Morriston Hospital’s Rector of Medicine
Science building to house the £9.3 million emergency and Health, Professor
Farr Institute of Health Informatics Research department. Julian Hopkin, is
and the £8 million Administrative Data
awarded a CBE in
Research Centre Wales Edwina Hart AM the New Year’s
OBE officially Honour List for
launches ILS2. Services to Medicine.
2010 The School of
BEACON project Medicine becomes
begins, a the College of
collaboration Medicine.
between
Aberystwyth, Bangor ILS2 and the Centre
and Swansea for NanoHealth open
Universities for business.
dedicated to
harnessing the State-of-the-art MRI
power of plants in equipment arrives
medicine, science from Siemens.
and manufacturing.
2012 Health Minister 2014
The Joint Clinical Mark Drakeford MRC bioinformatics
Research Facility visits ILS and centre is won in
(JCRF) is launched launches ‘Help is at collaboration with
in collaboration Hand’, a support Warwick University,
with ABMU Health publication for becoming the
Board’s Clinical people bereaved College’s fourth
Research Unit through suicide. research council
(CRU). centre in two years.
First minister
Genetics and Carwyn Jones The GMC adds
biochemistry officially opens the Swansea University
programmes are Centre for to the list of
recognised for Improvement in institutions able to
high graduate Population Health award Primary
employment rates through E-records Medical
with over 80% of Research (CIPHER), Qualifications
graduates in a multinational (PMQs).
employment or partnership to
further study within improve population The College of
6 months. health and Medicine celebrates
wellbeing through its 10th Anniversary.
Professor Keith health informatics
Lloyd is appointed research. The College of
Dean and Head of Medicine wins
the College of Biochemistry Athena SWAN
Medicine. teaching is bronze award for
enhanced with commitment to
new teaching advancing women’s
2013 laboratories. careers in science
EPSRC National
subjects.
Mass Spectrometry Construction work
Facility replaces the begins on the Data BEACON wins
service centre to Science building to RegioStars award
provide a house the £9.3 for sustainable
comprehensive million Farr Institute growth.
mass spectrometry of Health Informatics
service for Research and the First cohort of GEM
university research £8 million students graduates
groups throughout Administrative Data from Swansea
the UK. Research Centre University.
Wales.
College of Medicine, Swansea University
06 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014
History in the making
Rising to the challenge
Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard B. Davies applauds
the College of Medicine’s distinctive approach and
rapid growth, and its contribution to positioning
Swansea University for the 21st century.
Those decisions have enabled the College further strengthened within our ambitious
to develop world-leading strengths and Science and Innovation campus
build up its recognition with remarkable development and Singleton campus
speed, initially attracting substantial Welsh developments, many led by the College
Government and European Investment Fund of Medicine.
support for the Institute of Life Science and,
recently, large MRC and ESRC funds for the The College of Medicine’s approach
purpose-designed Data Science building. reflects the distinctive Swansea strengths
This will open in 2015 and will house that are particularly relevant for a 21st
the £5 million Farr Institute of Health Century University: multidisciplinary
Informatics Research, the £4.3million research, collaboration with industry and
Centre for the Improvement of Population an international perspective. We are
Health through E-records Research confident at Swansea that we have the staff
(CIPHER) and the new £8 million commitment and ambition to maintain our
Swansea’s efforts to establish a medical Administrative Data Research Centre impressive momentum and spectacular
school date back at least to the 1960s. (ARDC) Wales. growth, and that the College of Medicine
However, Swansea lost out then when has a big role to play in that success.
the new schools went to Universities in The big challenges of today do not respect
England, and lost out again in a further the artificial boundaries between traditional I wish the College of Medicine well in
round of new medical schools in the disciplines. Swansea’s Institute of Life its next phase of development and in its
1990s. Science has eliminated several disciplinary ambitious plans for further expansion
boundaries to foster world-class research of learning and teaching, research
All changed in 1999 with devolution. that delivers high-technology solutions and innovation.
With fresh thinking in Wales came a fresh to major healthcare challenges in
opportunity, and the arguments by the collaboration with industry and the NHS.
University and clinicians in the region
began to receive a sympathetic hearing. The growth in research income achieved Professor Richard B. Davies
Importantly, the population in the region by the College of Medicine is impressive, Vice-Chancellor, Swansea University
could begin to look forward to the health particularly the high proportion of
and wider benefits associated with living prestigious research council income which
close to a medical school. In 2001, the in 2013-14 accounted for 62% of the
Welsh Government, with the support of the £14.5 million secured by the College.
Welsh Assembly, established a medical
school at Swansea. The results of the Research Assessment
Exercise 2008 (RAE2008) demonstrated
Step-by-step, the College of Medicine took unequivocally that Swansea University is
shape. Key early decisions have proved to fast achieving its ambition to be a world-
be crucial: it was not to mimic other class, research-led University. Since then,
medical schools elsewhere in the UK, but to progress has accelerated even faster and
focus on graduate entry, adopt a distinctive Medicine is very much a part of that
multi-disciplinary approach to research, success. Already Swansea is fourth in the
and commit uniquely in the UK to effective UK for the amount of collaborative research
collaboration with industry. with industry. Our industrial links will be
College of Medicine, Swansea University
07 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014
History in the making
From vision to reality
Professor Julian Hopkin, founding Head of Swansea
Clinical School (2001-2004) and School of Medicine
(2004-2008) sits in Café Glas, ILS1, and discusses how
the College of Medicine arrived at where it is today.
become fully aware that it was under- formed the basis of us putting the case to
doctored by international standards and Assembly politicians and other interested
new Schools were being established in parties in order to build a growing base of
England as a result of the findings. Wales support for the venture. I have to say here
was lagging behind in both training new that Andrew Davies and Dai Lloyd put our
doctors and in recruiting doctors to work case boldly and, in so doing, crucially
in Wales. There was additional and much- secured support for the embryonic plans
needed opportunity outside the capital for at a formal Welsh Assembly debate.
a fresh approach in medical teaching and
research. What were the many challenges
you mention?
What benefits did you see for Swansea Initially, there were Civil Service strategic
and south west Wales generally? doubts: they held the belief that the
Wales’ second centre in Swansea would concentration of medical, academic people
What was your vision for the College of in turn foster both recruitment and retention and resources in the capital, Cardiff, would
Medicine at Swansea University? into the NHS of the west and through that – produce ‘critical mass’ with better results
It was 1999 and I’d returned from Oxford and research – would drive medical for medical training and especially medical
to Swansea with the aim of just doing advances of international importance, research. There was also concern from
medical research when talk of the advancing medicine at large whilst at Cardiff Medical School itself, fearing that
possibility of a new medical school arose the same time being rooted in its local resources would be siphoned away from
again in the Swansea Hospitals – there’d community, which was integral to our them. And then there was the simple case
been a failed bid to UK Government in the vision. of economics – that both capital and
1960s and later the establishment of a revenue can be hard to come by.
postgraduate medical school led by John You had the vision, so what about the
Williams. The 1999 vision was for an process – how did you make it happen? So how did you overcome these
exciting and strategically sound medical We had to ensure that there was a vibrant challenges?
school that placed innovation at the heart and committed support for the project Many of the strategic doubts voiced by the
of our proposal to the, by then, devolved across Swansea NHS and University – we Civil Service were neutered when Andrew
Welsh Assembly Government: innovation anticipated there would be challenges. Davies and Dai Lloyd fought our corner
that would apply to the excellence of And there were! But, at the outset we had at the Assembly. But then came all the
medical teaching and medical research. 96% of the consultant workforce onside, detailed planning of the School to be
We envisaged the creation of a second voting for the development, and recording rigorously developed in voluminous
medical school for Wales that truly that they would be ready to provide clinical business plans that would require final
complemented rather than duplicated the teaching. The support was boosted by formal support. And here, I’ll reiterate, the
established Cardiff Medical School model. Professor Robin Williams (Vice-Chancellor elements of cooperation and competition
We also saw the benefits of healthy of the University at that time) and Dr Pat we saw working across the two centres, a
competition as well as cooperation Steane (Medical Director) and Mr. David ‘diversity model’ if you like, which we felt
between the two Schools in Wales’ Williams (Chief Executive Swansea NHS would offer more productivity. We also put
two major cities. Trust) declaring their full backing. With this forward an incremental, small step model
strong local team in place we were able to for Swansea rather than a single giant
Was there a need as well as a desire for spearhead our mission and therefore able stride approach, which would allow us to
a second medical school for Wales? to develop our vision. We assembled and prove ourselves by performing brilliantly in
Absolutely. At that time, the UK had considered very early practical plans which all areas and demonstrating that brilliance
College of Medicine, Swansea University
08 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014
History in the making
in our results: success driving momentum
so that the next phase in our development
could be secured. It was proven success
that was to be the practical cornerstone
of the advance of the School. There were
some tough times, but outrageous ambition
and team spirit were key right from the start.
What pedigree did Swansea have at
that time to drive the agenda forward
and endorse its case?
Swansea had a substantial hospital
complex with high standards of practice;
the physical infrastructure was in place.
In addition to a comprehensive range of
general hospitals services it also had
specialist units – cardiac, renal, burns, from all around the world – medical, and distinction rates for the Graduate Entry
neonates, etc. It was also blessed with a scientific, technical, administrative – and Programme. Out of our first 2 cohorts, a
strong set of local general practices and it’s those people who are responsible for Swansea student won the all-Wales best
a University with diverse departments and the outstanding success of the School – medical student award in both 2008 and
strengths: there was already a School of now a College – in teaching, research and 2009 final examinations. And then of
Nursing here and a very powerful School innovation – and have made the robust course, there was Prime Minister Gordon
of Engineering that were committed to entity it is in 2014. And again innovation Brown’s visit in 2008: he was, quite rightly,
the local vision of a new medical school in medical training: while the UK was duly impressed and sent a warm letter of
building on the research base of the strongly focused on School-Entry medical fulsome congratulations.
existing postgraduate medical school. In training, we dared
Swansea we also had a University whose to be different,
campus abutted onto one of the major following the USA “I’d like to be remembered simply as the
NHS sites (Singleton), which promised and German
approach by
founding boss whom I hope folk found
great facilitation of working together in
teaching and, vitally, in research. This was attracting Graduate ambitious for medicine in Swansea and
a model of excellence and innovation Entry students with Wales, determined and fair minded.
between NHS and the University that local their distinct and But it wasn’t just about me.”
Welsh Assembly politicians strongly diverse backgrounds Professor Julian Hopkin CBE
endorsed and which led to its approval. and maturity which College of Medicine, Swansea University
has enriched the
Do you remember how you felt when talent and potential
the first phase of the Clinical School of the medical
came to be in 2001? workforce in terms of medical care and It’s been quite a journey and I know it’s
I’ll never forget the moment when I received research. We were able to offer a highly only just begun. How would you like
the phone call from Andrew Davies – I was innovative medical degree programme with your involvement to be remembered?
at home and he told me that the Welsh thorough integration of medical care and Simply as the founding boss whom I hope
Assembly Government had supported our medical science from day one. folk found ambitious for medicine in
application and innovative model to grow Swansea and Wales, determined and fair
the School in phases and to work in The rise of the School (College) has been minded. But it wasn’t just about me.
cooperation with Cardiff. It all started with continuous and I know it will continue in
34 Senior Clinical Tutors who were that vein. The founders of the Swansea What else do you think significant as to
appointed from among the Consultant Staff School knew that the now great and where Swansea stands so successfully
to lead the medical student teaching in the wonderful Harvard Medical School had poised in 2014?
first phase of the Clinical School which started in 49 Marlborough Street, Boston Team spirit, and again team spirit. And
lasted from 2001-2004. They produced a in 1810 and just went on to grow! keeping focus on the little matter that the
truly brilliant performance with rave formal medical education and medical research
feed back from the students and impressed What do you see as your proudest and development of today makes the great
politicians and civil servants. It all went moments in the College’s story to date? doctors and powerful medicine of
from there… Obviously the establishment of the tomorrow.
Swansea Clinical School in 2001 and then
And what about 2004, a significant the School of Medicine in 2004 (later to be And the future?
milestone, I’m sure? renamed the ‘College’). The Institute of Life Bright, very bright. Successive Heads must
Momentum had been gathering towards Science with building 1 in 2007 and sustain outrageous ambition and team
2004, which marked the transition from a building 2 in 2012. In 2008 there was a spirit. Current Head, Keith Lloyd, is doing
Clinical School to the School of Medicine highly successful Research Assessment UK just that.
with its distinctive Graduate Entry medical Exercise Result when 87% of our research
concept – and with the first glimmers of the outputs were classed as world-leading or
Institute of Life Science concept. It’s worth internationally excellent and, of course, the
emphasising here that business plans are winning of MRC/RSCR Research Centres in
one thing but performance is another: Health Informatics and Data, the support of
from the word go, the School excelled at EPSRC for the Mass Spectrometry Centre.
attracting and appointing staff at all grades I’m proud of our people: the fantastic passCollege of Medicine, Swansea University
09 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014
History in the making
Ten years. Ten snapshots. Together
they tell the story of the incredible
journey the College of Medicine
has made in the last decade, and
signpost where that journey might
lead in the future.College of Medicine, Swansea University
10 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014
History in the making
25/2/14 100%+
Recognition – The General Medical Fast growth – Number of Undergraduate
140
Numbers count – From 3 Postgraduate
Council (GMC) adds Swansea students across 3 years is 197 in 2013- students between 2001-2003 there are
University to the list of academic 2014 compared with 94 in 2007-2008 now 140 Postgraduate students engaged
institutions with the right to award cohort in Taught Masters and Research
Primary Medical Qualifications Programmes in 2014
independent of any other institution
Learning and teaching
2014 is a doubly special year for medical education at Swansea. September
sees the 10th anniversary of the first students who started on the Swansea-
Cardiff 4 year Graduate Entry Programme (GEP) in Medicine.
July 2014 also sees the first cohort of medical students to have spent all
four years of their course at Swansea University qualifying as doctors.
Their completion of Swansea’s Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) Programme
is a triumph for staff and students alike.
But learning and teaching within the College of Medicine is much more.
It is the successful coming together of its integral parts: a highly-regarded
undergraduate programme in Genetics, Medical Genetics, Medical Biochemistry
and a world-class Postgraduate facility comprising taught Masters and Research
degrees in areas significant to the advancement of medicine on a global scale.College of Medicine, Swansea University
11 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014
History in the making
At the heart of the triumph and celebration story of the College “The staff members who walked into the
of 2014 are ambition, innovation and from day one. The Purnell Lecture Theatre on that first day –
above all, proven excellence in learning tone was always
and teaching. Whether part of the deliberately bold 8th September 2004 – of the first year of
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM), and ambitious: our GEP course are unlikely ever to forget
Undergraduate or Postgraduate this was a College the feeling of seeing for the first time these
programmes, all the students who qualify that was going
in the College of Medicine know that they somewhere and
young people as a group. We got to know
will be equipped to be tomorrow’s doctors only the cream them well as we did each cohort of students
and life scientists in the communities they of world class from then on.”
will serve: across Wales; across the UK; expertise would Professor Rhys Williams
across the world. With them they will suffice. Big Formerly Chair of Learning and Teaching,
carry the prestige of one of the UK’s ambitions needed College of Medicine, Swansea University
fastest growing medical schools. big thinking.
Firm foundations Prestigious teaching challenges – fortunately more of the lesser
The story of successful learning and experts were sought out across the world type than those of greater magnitude – and
teaching at today’s College of Medicine is and recruited sometimes en masse (six all have been overcome through a spirit of
not a new one. The ethos of providing the joined in one day in 2001) attracted by “pragmatic acceptance of setbacks by
best learning and teaching was already the vision of the Swansea model, which students and a collaborative culture of
firmly established on campus, and realised that a Medical School could not positive thinking and hard work by staff
recognised nationally and internationally, be built without major players in the fields members.” One person of many more
before the beginnings of the College of of research and teaching nor without deserves acknowledgement: Professor Rhys
Medicine. Previously based in the School innovation as a key driver. Williams, who is said to have enabled
of Biological Sciences, Swansea University “medicine to be brought to life” at
had offered BSC Genetics degrees since Students across all three areas of learning Swansea and who successive cohorts on
the 1960s, one of the first Institutions in and teaching have been, and continue to the GEP/GEM Programmes will remember
the UK to do so. Swansea University also be, recruited through a stringent selection as the “human face” of their medical
boasted a highly regarded School of process comprising UCAS application, education. He has handed on that role to
Nursing (which celebrates its 25th open day, interview and assessment. The Professor Judy McKimm and her team.
anniversary this year) and a globally best of the best philosophy applies here
acclaimed School of Engineering. There too, so that in 2014 only 25% of those Learning and teaching for tomorrow
was also a research based postgraduate who initially apply will be considered The three features which follow aim to
medical school. All this provided a firm eligible to take part in the ‘Swansea encapsulate the essence, development
foundation on which the embryonic Experience’. and successes of the unique ‘Swansea
College of Medicine could build, maintain Experience’ of learning and teaching
and improve on the quality provision of Making it happen and illustrate where these successes
learning and teaching which lays at the It takes great people to turn concepts into are leading.
core of the success it enjoys today. tangibles and there have been many
people tasked with just that during the
Thinking big College of Medicine’s short, but dynamic,
Attracting and retaining the best staff and history of learning and teaching to date.
students has been a critical element in the This history has not been without itsCollege of Medicine, Swansea University
12 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014 Learning and teaching
History in the making
Tomorrow’s life scientists
2014 sees Swansea University’s Biochemistry
and Genetics Undergraduate programmes firmly
embedded within the College of Medicine. But
the roots reach back over forty-five years to the
1960s when the University was one of the first UK
institutions to offer students BSc degrees in Genetics.
W
hen Swansea did not benefiting from the cross-fertilisation 2007-2008 saw that figure soar to over
become Wales’ second achieved through shared learning and 80% where it has remained year on year
medical school in 1966 teaching and research expertise available since.
the University’s long and within the College. Many teachers on the
respected tradition in Biochemistry, Undergraduate Programmes are part of The Undergraduate Programmes also take
Chemistry and Genetics continued to the wider research environment and many pride in the fact that they are seeding the
flourish. Biochemistry was closely involved teachers are medical professionals, often ‘home grown’ and globally significant
with the Chemistry Department prior to working as doctors in local hospitals. research that is so in evidence at ILS. An
transfer in the late 1980s to the School Positioned together, the two sciences ongoing cycle of learning and teaching is
of Biological Sciences into which Genetics have been strengthened and are jointly developing at the College: Undergraduate
was also integrated. When the bid re- contributing to the
emerged in 1999, this tradition was critical prestige of the
in giving leverage to the articulation of the College as a whole. “We are turning them into professional
new vision.
With the transfer scientists. I am proud to say, I taught them.”
to the College of Professor Paul Dyson,
It made sense: there is a substantial link
Medicine there Undergraduate Programme Director,
between Genetics and Medicine and it
has been an College of Medicine, Swansea University
was a natural step that linked the people
instrumental in helping to birth the Swansea accompanying
Clinical School in 2001. In Medicine there increase in status of
was Professor Julian Hopkin and in Genetics the Undergraduate Programmes. The rate – Postgraduate – PhD – Staff; retaining that
there was Professor James Parry who both of growth has been rapid: during 2007- knowledge base in a local clever economy
realised the positive and mutual benefits of 2008 there were 94 students in total across for the benefit of the wider world of Life
their separate disciplines forming part of the 3 years. Fast forward to 2013-2014 Science.
the envisaged model for the School. and there are 197 – a 100%+ increase
and Programmes are almost fully And the future? Such strong performance
The fit between medical and molecular subscribed. in such short a time looks set to continue
science that was so strategically effective on an upward trajectory. About to launch
at the inception of the School, and integral The Undergraduate Programmes are is an innovative one year MSc bolt-on to
to its aims and ambitions, resulted in the tuned into the increasing demands of the BSc that will place greater emphasis
Genetics Programme being incorporated students as consumers of education, and on research and add even more value to
within the School (now College) of since transfer was completed in 2010 have tomorrow’s life scientists.
Medicine in 2007, with Biochemistry been proactively evolving the nature and
following in 2010. With the new transfers scope of the degrees offered (currently a
came a considerable overhaul of total of 5 single and joint honours BSc
management and structures, with the Degrees) ensuring that Swansea maintains
formation of a joint Board of Studies competitive edge and maximises
chaired by a single Programme Director – employment opportunities for its Graduates.
initially Professor David Skibinski and
currently, Professor Paul Dyson. Increasing employability success is a
source of pride: in 2007 only 67% of
By 2014, that fit has already been Graduates taught in the Biological Sciences
successfully proven, with Undergraduates were employed in work or in further study.College of Medicine, Swansea University
13 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014
History in the making
George is a an award-winning can hone their skills in business
researcher in the College of settings. Evidenced by the
>
Medicine who combines teaching spectacular employability rate,
Dr George Johnson, and research, ensuring that this hands-on experience makes
tomorrow’s life scientists are them some of the most sought
Senior Lecturer learning from the best of today. after graduates in the UK.
College of Medicine,
Academics like George who
Swansea University keep their fingers on the pulse
of research teach students the
latest methods and findings and
coordinate placements in world-
leading organisations such as
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) so studentsCollege of Medicine, Swansea University
14 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014 Learning and teaching
History in the making
Tomorrow’s doctors
25th February 2014 will always be remembered as
the day Swansea University’s medical school joined
the General Medical Council’s (GMC) prestigious list
of UK medical schools entitled to award UK Primary
Medical Qualifications (PMQs) independent of any
other institution.
T
his GMC validation is testament to GEM enables Swansea to play its part in GMC’s Tomorrow’s Doctors (2009) outlines
the vision and ambition of all those the under-doctoring issue in Wales by both the requirements of a doctor under three
who campaigned for Wales’ second increasing recruitment and increasing themes: doctor as scientist and scholar;
medical school ahead of it opening retention of doctors, which will in turn doctor as practitioner; and doctor as
its doors to the first cohort of thirty-six improve the health and wellbeing of the professional. Those doctors who leave
graduates in 2004. This acknowledgement communities they will serve. It has already GEM in 2014 will know that they have
to ‘stand alone’ is also an endorsement started to deliver with 59% of this year’s had the best of the best to equip them to
of the successive leaders who have been cohort who will graduate with a MB BCh be tomorrow’s doctors. For them, their
charged with Graduate Entry Medicine’s in July committed to foundation doctoring lifelong journey is just beginning.
stewardship in its ten short years and a in Wales.
marker of the responsibility to follow in
the years to come. The GMC visiting “In common with best medical practice
team highlighted some
Back in 2004 the Graduate Entry of the programme’s
internationally and in line with Tomorrow’s
Programme (GEP) was funded by the unique features Doctors, the Swansea GEM programme
Welsh Assembly Government as part of including the Rural incorporates… a high level of patient
a joint collaboration between Swansea and Remote Health involvement and a large number of self-
and Cardiff Universities, which meant that in Medical Education
students on the Programme spent the first (RRHIME) and the selected clinical and research experiences
two years at Swansea followed by their value placed on the to develop lifelong learning.”
final two years at Cardiff. From its Welsh language Professor Judy McKimm
inception in 2004, Swansea had been and culture which Dean of Medical Education,
striving to be able to ‘go it alone’ and is embedded in the College of Medicine, Swansea University
since 2007 the College of Medicine programme.
had worked partnership with Welsh
Government, the Wales Deanery, local 2014 is a year to celebrate and also So too for GEM. The programme will
Health Boards, hospitals, community to acknowledge that there have been mature with the years and with continued
organisations, students and the GMC to challenges along the way. Challenges outward facing thinking will continue to
develop the distinctive GEM Programme, that have been overcome with the same attract and retain the best. Small student:
which it was able to offer from 2009. ethos of determination, team spirit and teacher ratios and a context that views
the pursuit of excellence that is at the core both learners and teachers as professional
Swansea’s GEM programme is unique in of GEM’s success. Following the bitter colleagues is a potent mix and combined
Wales and one of a small group of similar disappointment – both for students and staff with GMC’s recent validation has boosted
programmes of medical study in the UK. – of the 2011 GMC Review, the curriculum Swansea University’s upward trajectory
It is an innovative, accelerated medical has been recast, building on and adapting and its ambition to be one of the world’s
degree open to high-achieving graduates its inherent strengths so that it has now top universities.
with demonstrable first and upper second been deemed ‘fit to go’. It is proof of
degrees in the arts, sciences or humanities. the “yes we can…and we did,” mind
Competition is tough and only seventy, set of Professor Judy McKimm and her
selected from initial applications of over predecessor, Professor Rhys Williams
eight hundred, will have the opportunity to who have enabled the GEM Programme
benefit from the ‘Swansea Experience’. to come of age.College of Medicine, Swansea University
15 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014
History in the making
Gaining one of the seventy places intentionally not structured in
on the GEM programme is an a traditional ‘body systems’
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achievement in itself, but approach. Instead, it is designed
Graduate Entry Medicine becoming one of the seventy to reflect the way in which
doctors of tomorrow is something clinicians actually approach
Students else. patients, investigating particular
College of Medicine, problems and conditions from
The GEM curriculum features all possible angles. This gives
Swansea University a unique balance of learning Swansea graduates the upper
weeks, clinical apprenticeships, hand when it comes to
specialty attachments, clinical approaching the uncertainties
assistantships, electives and and uniqueness of their future
shadowing. Unlike conventional practice and prepares them to
medical degree courses, the be tomorrow’s doctors.
innovative GEM curriculum isCollege of Medicine, Swansea University
16 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014 Learning and teaching
History in the making
Growing talent
The rapid rate of growth in the number of
Postgraduates choosing to progress their studies
at Swansea is commensurate with the College’s
status as ‘UK’s fastest growing Medical School’.
It is affirmation of the demand for its distinctive
approach to learning and teaching at the heart
of its vision.
I
n 2014, within the College of Medicine John Baxter, Professor Gareth Jenkins and with the Chair meeting all students at the
there are 140 candidates engaged in Professor John White, each retrospectively end of every year to chat about progress
highly valued and respected keeping the Chair warm for the subsequent and gaining valuable feedback; four
Postgraduate and Continuing Education sitter. Though the stewardship has official joint-appraisal meetings between
or in supervised Postgraduate Degrees changed, the focus on increasing Postgraduates and their Supervisors; the use
aligned to the research-active groups in Postgraduate numbers and at the same of Skype and the fusion of the internet into
the College. In the years 2001-2004 time ensuring high levels of service are the design of projects; platforms for students
there were just 3. maintained is paramount. Student surveys to have their voice in quarterly ’Tea with
are now all important and Blackboard Tom’ sessions. And in the ethos of the
The Postgraduate thread of learning intranet allows the Programmes to monitor interdisciplinary nature of learning and
and teaching is now able to offer 4 satisfaction. Vital markers too are statistics teaching and research at the College, open
Postgraduate Research Degrees: Doctor from external monitoring benchmark bodies discussions at monthly meetings operating
of Philosophy (PhD); Doctor of Medicine such as the Research Excellence in a culture of collective decision making.
(MD); Master of Philosophy (MPhil); and Framework (REF). Since 2007 there have been physical
the latest addition – a significant milestone
for the Programme – Masters by Research The learning and
“Postgraduate Day in May has now become
(MRes.) introduced in 2013. teaching nurturing
approach embodied Postgraduate Week. I’m really proud that the
Under its Postgraduate Taught Masters in the PhD number of Postgrads is too big to present
and Continuing Education Programme, programme can snapshots of its research on 1 day.”
the opportunities continue to expand: all be summed up Dr Tom Wilkinson
are linked to the College’s professional in ‘Tom’s method’ – Chair of Higher Degrees,
and research expertise and focus on a close mentoring College of Medicine, Swansea University
gaining transferable employability skills of apprentice by
as well as specialist knowledge. master that
progresses over the duration of the structures too that have been the catalysts
Year on year, the Postgraduate course from I (the master demonstrating) in attracting and developing progression
Programmes are growing talent: talent to We (master and apprentice working from Undergraduate to Postgraduate to PhD:
enriched by the experience of study itself together on research in the laboratory) world class innovation and research at work
and in turn, enriching the advance of to You (master gradually ‘letting go’ of in the laboratories and facilities of the
medical science. Postgraduates are drawn the apprentice who thus becomes a Institute of Life Science (ILS1 and ILS2).
from across the globe, the UK, from new master). With the new Data Science building on
industry, and from other programmes in track to open in 2015 and ILS3 beckoning
the College of Medicine: many of those The Postgraduate Programmes are coming in 2020, things can only go from strength
who graduate through GEM or the of age. To reach the point they are at to strength and give more space for
Undergraduate Programme are feeding today, a strong strategy and strong developing knowledge to flourish.
into Postgraduate study and in so doing structures have needed to be in place.
progressing the knowledge pipeline and The restructuring of the Postgraduate
helping retain ‘home grown’ expertise. Research Degrees 2011-2012 has resulted
in the “best balance of people and ensures
Nurturing all the expertise at present everybody’s on the same page.” But
(2013-) is Dr Tom Wilkinson, Chair of there are smaller changes in place too:
Higher Degrees who succeeded Professor increasing pastoral support for students,College of Medicine, Swansea University
17 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014
History in the making
Leanne is studying towards a company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
PhD at the College of Medicine where she excelled by helping
>
after being awarded a CASE to improve human health risk
Leanne Stannard, studentship funded by assessment.
multinational company
CASE PhD Studentship AstraZeneca and the BBSRC. The College of Medicine’s ethos
College of Medicine, She graduated from the College is that research and industry
in 2013 with a first class honours opportunities are made available
Swansea University in Medical Genetics. to undergraduate students as well
as postgraduates, allowing them
Her growing talent was evident to grow into scientists of global
after successfully securing a UK- standing.
wide recruited and hotly contested
placement with global healthcareCollege of Medicine, Swansea University
18 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014
History in the making
£25m +
Upward trajectory – from £1 million
87%
Recognised excellence – over 87% of
>140
Strength in depth – over 140 top flight
grant income in 2004 to £25 million research judged as world-class or of Researchers working across 4 research
in 2014 international importance in RAE2008 themes of global significance in
3 state-of-the-art buildings
Research
In 2014 the College of Medicine is recognised across the globe for the impact
of its Research. This is credit to those whose early vision for the new College
realised that Research excellence was integral to the model that would pay
dividends and grow profile quickly.
Today, Research is firmly embedded within the College of Medicine at its
Institute of Life Science (ILS). But its story is shaped by a strong tradition
and a track record of success in Genetics and Biochemistry, which have
been based at Swansea University since the 1960s.College of Medicine, Swansea University
19 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014
History in the making
The status and impetus for growth afforded the Institute of Life “We don’t produce clones. I’m really proud
by Swansea becoming a fully fledged Science (ILS1). Its of my students – they’re unique and they
Medical School in 2004 is nothing short of open-plan and
startling. Nowhere is this more in evidence shared core facilities have a unique research environment.”
than in the field of Research, one of the of laboratories and Professor Gareth Jenkins
three pillars that together, in just a decade, offices embodied Director of Research,
have enabled the College of Medicine to the collaborative College of Medicine, Swansea University
say, ‘Look at us!’ ethos that was
central to Research
decided to reorganise the existing structure
Perfect strategy at the College of Medicine. It allowed
into units of critical mass under four broad
Of course the raison d’être of the for ‘clusters of difference’ and a cross-
themes that had been identified as giving
embryonic College of Medicine in 2004 fertilisation of ideas between different
the ‘flavour’ of Research expertise at
was to teach doctors, without that it would areas of Research and between
the College of Medicine: Patient and
have been nothing. But the early strategists, academics, PhD Students and enterprise
Population Health and Informatics (PPHI);
particularly, Professor Julian Hopkin, and innovation at the heart of the concept
Biomarkers and Genes; Microbes and
recognised that this on its own was not of ILS.
Immunity; and Devices with Data Science
enough: the College had to build an
central to all.
international reputation for Research. The ILS1 WOW factor, combined with the
research expertise that was already in
Bright spots
His strategy was to “get the best quality place, plus the excellence highlighted in
In 2014, these four themes remain broad
people and get them fast”. At that time the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise
and will be further refined to highlight a
there were no dedicated buildings for (RAE) now re-named the Research
series of ‘bright spots’. Research will bring
Research, no state-of-the-art facilities to Excellence Framework (REF) drove a
these ‘bright spots’ into sharp focus to
entice world-wide expertise, no history, second substantial wave of recruitment
maintain the upward trajectory that has
but nevertheless they came from the outset, of calibre, as did ILS2 in 2011 and the
seen grant income rise exponentially from
excited by the opportunity of the Swansea launch of the Joint Clinical Research Facility
a base of £1million in 2004 to £25million
vision conveyed with dynamism and (JCRF) in 2012. Success then quickly
in 2014 and by 2015 will see the Data
determination by Julian. They came from followed success with a flurry of research
Science building open its doors to two
the UK; from Germany; and from further council funded centres: mass spectroscopy,
research centres, cementing the positioning
afield, USA and New Zealand. Many who health informatics and bioinformatics.
of Research at the College of Medicine as
had started out in Swansea ‘came home’. Translational research at Swansea was
world-class.
This was a bold strategy which made being seen to make a “real difference in
a big statement about intention. It was the the real world”; but perhaps it could make
The features which follow aim to give
beginning of a virtuous circle and a spiral an even greater difference.
snapshots of the four major Research
of confidence based on the pedigree of
Themes that have been identified at
these initial staff that would, in turn, attract Strength in depth
Swansea together with the cross-cutting
yet more acknowledged experts in their Up until 2012 research in the whole
theme of Data Science. The features look
respective fields. College was led by 35 Professors and
back at the development of each area of
consisted of over 130 Research Groups.
Research and look forward to where those
Room to grow There was general agreement that the
particular areas might lead in the future.
With more people came the need for more Research was being spread too thinly and
space; more space meant capacity for that strength in depth across less breadth
more people and 2007 saw the triumph of was the way forward. It was thereforeCollege of Medicine, Swansea University
20 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014 Research
History in the making
Discovery and delivery
In 2014 Researchers working within the broad theme
of Biomarkers and Genes at the College of Medicine
are acknowledged as world leaders in the discovery
of novel genetic, immunological and molecular
biomarkers and in the delivery of their practical
applications in drug development and treatments.
G
enetics at Swansea has a long influenced the care of rare neurological (HPC) Wales, an innovative collaboration
and distinguished history. Its disorders; how their studies of genetic which today gives innovators and
origins can be traced back to mutations have affected the studies of researchers in Wales access to world-class,
the late 1960s and early 1970s safety of toxins at low dose; the 2013 secure and easy to use HPC technology.
when its founding fathers, Professor John EPSRC UK National Mass Spectrometry
Beardmore and Professor David Skibinski, Facility; pushing the boundaries of This collaboration is central to the College
returned from Cambridge and began their research in Diabetic Nephropathy and of Medicine’s research ethos: inter-
pioneering research contributions in the Retinopathy; and of course, the advances disciplinary collaboration with the other
fields of genetic toxicology and DNA in Nanotoxicology, now a rising star Research themes and interaction with
repair mechanisms, population and within Biomarkers and Genes. industry and spin-out companies so that
evolutionary genetics and in the genetics market needs are fully integrated into
of microbes and cell organelles. There have been significant milestones research. Central too is the dynamism
too in that time that have driven success: of the department that is “creating its
Soon after Swansea opened its doors to unquestionably ILS1
Graduate Entry Medicine in 2004, the in 2007 and ILS2
departments of Genetics and Biochemistry in 2011, and before, “It was a really big deal and a coup for the
were brought together under the College of in 2006, the IBM R&D College – both exciting and terrifying.
Medicine. Rooted in the respected tradition collaboration and the I had the keys to drive this (IBM Blue C
of those early days, Biomarkers and Genes Blue C Supercomputer
has since evolved as one of the four major (the largest in the UK
Supercomputer).”
at the time and a Professor Mike Gravenor
research themes identified by the College
remarkable coup for Theme Lead Biomarkers and Genes,
of Medicine as ‘bright spots’.
the College). Dedicated College of Medicine, Swansea University
The establishment of the fledgling Medical to Life Sciences for
School and the impressive research ‘mathematical biology’,
standing of early visionaries Professor Blue C has been used in projects including own story as it goes along” with the
Julian Hopkin and Professor Rhys Williams numerically intensive analysis of viral flexibility to enquire, explore, discover
was a “powerful pull” in attracting genomes, epidemiological modelling, large and deliver.
research talent to Swansea. One such clinical data bases and analysis of the
talent was Mike Gravenor, now Professor genetics of disease susceptibility. The next ten years will see Biomarkers and
Mike Gravenor, Theme Lead for Biomarkers Genes build on the successes of the last
and Genes, who took up a Lectureship on The spin-offs from this cannot be decade by expanding its clinical and
returning to his “home town” from Oxford underestimated: within the College, the business interfaces and attracting more
in 2004. He, like many others who came enablement of the Informatics and Data funding to take its research forward. The
at that time, could not resist the challenge Science Base (prior to PPHI) by Professor facilities of ILS and the talent of its people
of Professor Julian Hopkin’s words: David Ford and Professor Ronan Lyons and gives the opportunity to do so as they stand
“Come here and help us set up something the facility to carry out cutting-edge shoulder to shoulder with the NHS and
exciting.” research into the evolution of viruses (the Enterprise and Innovation.
paper which was published in 2006
Today, within Biomarkers and Genes, there became the 3rd highest cited paper out
are ten Professors each with “a story to of 12,000). Externally, the ‘kit’ and its
tell”. Some of the most noteworthy of the outputs became the blueprint for the
last decade being: how their research has £44 million High Performance ComputingCollege of Medicine, Swansea University
21 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014
History in the making
Shareen's research sits within the better deliver treatment and
College of Medicine’s Biomarkers patient outcomes.
>
and Genes Theme. She has
Dr Shareen Doak, established a research programme An award-winning scientist and
in nano-genotoxicology looking UK and EUROTOX Registered
Reader at how DNA can be damaged Toxicologist, Shareen’s expertise
College of Medicine, by very small or “nano” particles is recognised across the globe.
that potentially lead to cancer. She sits on the UK Government
Swansea University She also leads prostate cancer Committee on Mutagenicity
research at the College, and the International Genetic
investigating the molecular Toxicology Technical Committee
basis of progression to invasive, and is an external expert for the
aggressive disease, with an EU Scientific Committee on
ultimate aim of discovering a Consumer Safety.
prognostic biomarker panel toCollege of Medicine, Swansea University
22 10th Anniversary: 2004-2014 Research
History in the making
Speed and scale
In 2014, Patient and Population Health and Informatics
(PPHI) is a multidisciplinary research centre with a
world-class reputation. It has evolved from pioneering
work carried out at Swansea University in the 1990s
to make explosive impacts internationally in the field
of Health Informatics.
P
PHI is one of the four major research research groups within Wales, the wider comparison with just 20 in 2004. The
themes identified in the restructuring UK and across the world. Informatics Team has grown steadily to
of research at the College in 2012 over 100 since the inception of ‘big data’
and now consolidated within the ILS. The growing success of the Centres within projects such as SAIL and CIPHER and is
It is currently directed by Theme Lead, PPHI is “phenomenal”. It is home to: the “well set” to continue at the forefront of
Professor Helen Snooks (2012-) its Centre of Health Information Research and research as the structures that make for
precursor being led by Professor John EvALuation (CHIRAL); the Centre for the success are in place: informatics; clinical
Williams who set the scene and played a Improvement of Population Health through trials unit; and research themes. And then
major part in today’s story through the early eRecords Research (CIPHER) one of a there’s ILS itself, a physical testament of
work of vision and value undertaken at the network of only four world-class Health possibility, growing hand in hand with
Postgraduate Medical School (-2001) and eResearch Centres of Excellence funded by research: ILS1 (2007); ILS2 (2011); the
Swansea Clinical School (2001-2004). the Medical Research Council (MRC); an new Data Science building due for
£8 million Centre of Administrative Data completion in 2015; and the vision for
Vision and value remains at the heart of Research and Evaluation; and one of the ILS3 in 2020.
PPHI’s remit: to produce and disseminate four major centres that
high quality and internationally relevant together form the MRC’s
research that will be deemed to be “worth £20 million funded UK “It’s all about impact… about research
doing” to both policy makers who plan health informatics results that are not just locally applicable,
and deliver health services and to patients research group,
who use those services. the Farr Institute.
but internationally applicable.”
Professor Helen Snooks
Theme Lead PPHI,
Year on year, PPHI’s growing reputation as This latest award not
College of Medicine, Swansea University
a global leader in research using electronic only cements the
data is being recognised in the form of College of Medicine’s
prestigious awards and the capture of reputation for world-
millions of pounds in grant funding. class research but will enable PPHI to Going forward, the need for change is not
Instrumental in this recognition is the capitalise on its expertise in safely sharing, seen: PPHI is on a solid footing and making
innovation and entrepreneurship of combining and analysing diverse data sets a considerable contribution to the College
Professor David Ford and Professor Ronan across new boundaries, ‘leading of Medicine. It is on the right trajectory to
Lyons and their “solid research rooted in discoveries’ and validating research attract and build capacity at all levels to
public health”. findings at a speed and scale not take Swansea to the world and attract yet
previously possible. It will also be a more money and more people of the highest
The essential component underpinning the catalyst for investment to the UK through calibre to Swansea. Professor Helen Snooks
ground-breaking research at PPHI is its collaborations with IT and pharmaceutical states it simply: “Do what we do; and do
Secure Anonymised Information Linkage companies and build on its already strong more of it!”
(SAIL) system that securely brings together collaborations among UK and International
the widest possible array of routinely Researchers.
collected patient data for research,
development and evaluation, using cryptic Speed and scale is not only pertinent to the
codes for anonymity. From its inception in research possibilities, but to the growth of
2006, SAIL is now engaged in a range of the infrastructure in which that research
high-profile externally funded research operates: the people and the place. In
studies, leading or collaborating with 2014 PPHI supports 200+ jobs inYou can also read
