BPC 2004 attracts positive media coverage
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s public relations unit says that this year’s British
Pharmaceutical Conference resulted in more positive national and local media coverage than ever before.
Interviews and reports appeared in most major national daily newspapers,
on television, on several national radio stations and regional media
across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales during the conference, held
at the Manchester International Convention Centre from 27 to 29 September
2004.
Media covered included an Observer feature on research by the Conference
Science Chairman, Ruth Duncan, into nanomedicines (PDF 120K) and how
they are expected to bring significant advances in diagnosing and treating
disease
(PJ,
2 October, p485).
Peter Houghton, of the Department of Pharmacy, King’s College London,
appeared live on Sky television talking about his research that confirms
the benefits of commonly used traditional remedies for a range of illnesses,
including cancer, offering a scientific justification for their use.
This included the curry-leaf tree (Murraya koenigii), a traditional Indian
plant that has been shown to have potential antidiabetic activity.
Other popular stories picked up by the media included research from the
School of Pharmacy, University of London, that showed how pine cones
may form a new line of attack against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus infection.
Research from the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences at the University
of Portsmouth revealed how the active ingredients of soya could be turned
into a useful medicine that may help to beat breast cancer.
During the conference the Society’s Chief Scientist, Tony Moffat,
was interviewed by a number of radio stations and journalists. He said: “The
growing interest of the media in BPC reflects the growing importance
of the conference for pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists alike.
It has become the venue for the presentation of cutting edge research
in both practice and science for the benefit of patients. It’s
also an ideal place for pharmacists to satisfy their continuing professional
development needs.”
Jean-Pierre Moser, the Society’s head of public relations and membership,
said: “BPC is now firmly established on the media map, helping
to raise the profile of pharmacy to a wide national audience. News reports
about science and practice research showcased at BPC appeared throughout
the week with the Daily Mail, The Independent, The
Guardian, The Observer,
The Express, Radio Four’s Today programme, Radio Five Live Drive
Time and Sky News among those running stories.”
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