Big Bang Event
Mon 28 Jun 2010
Network supports the Big Bang Fair The Big Bang Fair was held at the World Museum in Liverpool on Monday 28th June. It was attended by schools from across the North West and was an opportunity for students find out more about science, technology, engineering and maths. The MCRN were invited along to provide information on the research we carry out into children’s medicines and students who attended were able to play “The Medicines Game” and speak to us about research into medicines.
Most students had taken some form of medicine for conditions such as asthma and hay fever, and they were very keen to share their views on how we could improve medicines so they are easier for children and young people to take. We asked them to vote for what their favourite flavour of medicine would be and if they would rather take their medication in the form of tablets or medicine. They felt that a strawberry flavoured medicine would be the preferred form for them to take their medication. We also asked them how much they knew about research into medicines and below are some of the answers they gave: “A test of a drug on people who have volunteered” “It is the testing of new medicines using placebos to see if it is the drug or a mental thing. It takes around 10 years.” “Where doctors test new medicine on people.
Normally the people have to be healthy so that if they are any side effects then they know it is not a symptom of the diseased person. Sometimes they use placebos so they know the mental aspect of the patient does not affect the cure.” “Testing medicines/drugs to see if they are safe to use and if they are effective.” Several MCRN staff from the two North West Local Research Networks attended the day, along with MCRN Co-ordinating Centre Staff. Joanne Glossop, User Involvement Co-ordinator from our network said ““The Big Bang Fair was overall a very interesting day and excellent way of finding out from young people living across the North West just how much they know about research into medicines.”
Picture above is of Dr Charlie Orton (Left) and Jenny Newman (right).
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