End-of-life debate

'At the End of the Day', a public debate held last night by King's and the Christian Evidence Society, explored the ethical, moral and spiritual questions raised by end-of-life issues.
Brought to the fore by the High Court battle and subsequent death of Tony Nicklinson, a 'locked-in syndrome' sufferer who fought for the right to end his life, the assisted dying debate has received extensive attention in recent months.
Last night at King’s, Lord Falconer, chair of the Commission on Assisted Dying, argued strongly in favour of assisted dying, whilst Professor Nigel Biggar, Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology, University of Oxford, argued for the law to remain unchanged. Addressing members of the public, students and academic colleagues, Lord Falconer expressed his conviction that as everyone dies people should have the choice to decide when and how they end their lives.
Professor Biggar said he had wrestled for years with the complex issues inherent in the debate and had not reached a truly satisfying conclusion, but he affirmed his belief that, as a rule, people should be encouraged and supported to live.
Lord Harries of Pentregarth, the former Bishop of Oxford, chaired the debate.
The Revd Professor Richard Burridge, Dean of King’s College London, said: ‘It was a privilege to host this event with Lord Falconer, Professor Biggar and Lord Harries, and I was glad to see that those attending included students from a variety of different Schools and Departments across the College.’ 
He added: ‘This was an important debate for the College and for the country.’

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Pre-university course in Mumbai

King’s College London, one of the world’s top 30 universities, held a highly popular pre-university programme at the Singapore International School in Mumbai this Diwali. The programme gave the students an exciting insight into teaching at a world-leading university and equipped them with skills that are useful to be successful at a top university such as King's. The course follows a very successful university level programme held in Mumbai earlier this year.
The Pre-University Programme which took place from 10 to 17 November is part of a much broader major initiative to expand the College’s links in India. Engagement with India forms a core part of the College’s international strategy – in order to develop links for research collaboration and encourage the mobility of staff and students. The Principal and President of King's College London recently visited India as well to strengthen the links between King’s and the country.
Dr Alexander Heinz, Deputy Head of International Programmes at King's, said: 'This programme brings King's innovative teaching methods to Indian school students and exposes them to a highly interactive, student-centered learning experience. The King's Pre-University Programme helps school students develop into self confident young people who will make informed choices about their academic future. The course aims to equip them with cutting-edge knowledge and study skills which are crucial for a head start of their higher education studies internationally.'
Michael Bedward, faculty of the Strategic Management course, added: 'I enjoyed working with such fantastic students enormously. I tailored my teaching especially to the student group that I was teaching and used Indian case studies to introduce the students to concepts that are vital in competitive environments, even for the most senior managers, around the globe.'

Notes to editors

For further information please contact Katherine Barnes, International PR Manager, on +44 207 848 3076.

For more on our links with India visit the India Institute web pages.

For further information about King's visit our 'King's in Brief' page.

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Mild cognitive impairment in L. America, China and India

One of the first studies to investigate the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in low and middle income countries finds that MCI does not depend on socio-demographic factors, and is associated with disability and neuropsychiatric symptoms. 

The research was led by the 10/66 Dementia Research Group based at the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London and published today in PLoS Medicine. 

MCI is an intermediate state between normal signs of cognitive aging, such as becoming increasingly forgetful, and dementia, and may be linked to an increased risk of dementia, 

The research group interviewed roughly 15,000 people aged over 65 years who did not have dementia in eight low and middle incomes countries—Cuba, Dominican Republic, Peru, Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, China, and India. 

Their mental and physical health, cognitive function were also assessed and their relatives and carers interviewed for further details about any memory loss, any other decline in cognitive function or the presence of any neuropsychiatric symptoms. 

The prevalence of MCI ranged quite widely, from 0.8% in China to 4.3% in India. They found that age or level of former education did not seem to be linked to MCI and that men had a slightly higher prevalence of MCI than women. The authors found that MCI was associated with disability, anxiety, apathy and irritability but not with depression. 

Dr Robert Stewart, senior author of the paper at the IoP at King’s says: ‘By 2050, it’s estimated that more than 115 million people will have dementia, and much of the expected increase will occur in low and middle income countries where the population is rapidly ageing.

‘I hope that the information on MCI in low and middle income countries we report in this study could help inform health care and social service planning in these rapidly ageing and highly populated regions of the world.’

The authors added that more long-term studies are needed to investigate whether MCI can be used as a reliable marker for further cognitive decline and dementia, and into the associations with disability and neuropsychiatric symptoms. 

Dr Stewart adds: ‘It is also worth considering whether cultural influences may impact upon the identification of MCI – it may be that people in certain countries may be more or less likely to admit to memory difficulties. Whilst this may help in part explain the variation between countries, the association between MCI and disability remained constant throughout.’

The 10/66 Dementia Research Group is supported by the Wellcome Trust (UK), the World Health Organization, the US Alzheimer’s Association and the Fondo Nacional de Ciencia Y Tecnologia, Consejo de Desarrollo Cientifico Y Humanistico, Universidad Central de Venezuela (Venezuela). The lead author is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Specialist Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. 

For full paper: Sosa, A.L. et al. ‘Prevalence, Distribution, and Impact of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Latin America, China, and India: A 10/66 Population-Based Study’ (7th February 2012) PLoS Medicine doi: 9(2): e1001170. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001170

For more information, please contact Seil Collins (Press Officer) email: seil.collins@kcl.ac.uk or tel: 0207 848 5377

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Henry III documents brought to life

The Fine Rolls event

A project to translate and digitalise documents drawn up for Henry III to record money and favours owed to him, is nearing completion. The ‘Fine Rolls’ of Henry III are written in Latin on parchment, with one for every year of his 56 year reign, some containing more than  35,000 words, and measuring up to three metres  in length.
This three-year project has brought to life remarkable material which is now freely available to everyone. The rolls, containing two million words in 40,000 separate entries, have been translated into English and encoded electronically, creating indexes and search facilities.

The website (www.finerollshenry3.org.uk ) has digitized images of all the rolls and it is possible to look through them membrane by membrane and zoom in on a particular entry.

With funding of £1 million from the Arts & Humanities Research Council, the project, formally known as ‘From Magna Carta to the Parliamentary State: The Fine Rolls of King Henry 1216-1272’  has been a joint venture between scholars at three institutions – King’s College London, The National Archives and Canterbury Christ Church University. The pioneering technical work has been carried out by the Centre for the Computing in the Humanities Department at King’s.

Leading this project is David Carpenter, Professor of Medieval History at  King’s College London, who comments:  ‘The project is a perfect example of a collaborative enterprise that develops and exploits the latest technology in order to open up a major a historical source to a wide community of users, public as well as academic.’

The Fine Rolls of Henry III (1216-1272) are preserved in the National Archives at Kew, and, as well as recording ‘fines’ - which are essentially an agreement to pay money for a concession - they contain a wealth of other material. Examples include the taxation of towns, the seizure of lands into the King’s hands because of rebellion, and even Henry III’s sense of humour.

One element of the website is the ‘Fine of the Month’ feature which offers regular comment on discoveries in the rolls. This began in December 2005 so there are now 60 of them.

Professor Carpenter explains: 'Fines of the Month have been about places across the country,– from  Nunney in  Somerset  to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, and have furthered the impact of the project, enabling it  to establish contact with local communities. They deal with the development of general taxation and the emergence of the parliamentary state.’

The latest for November is an entirely new exposition of Archbishop Langton’s role in creating the Magna Carta. Others deal with the persecution of the Jews, peasant uprisings and the position of women after Magna Carta.

Dr Louise Wilkinson, a Senior Lecturer in Medieval History at Canterbury Christ Church University, who is one of the project’s co-directors and has been closely involved in managing the project since its inception in 2005, says: ‘One of the most rewarding things about working on this project is the way in which it has not only greatly enriched our understanding of thirteenth-century politics and society, but also yielded valuable information for local communities who are interested in uncovering information about their past.’

To celebrate the completion of this work a reception was held last night (Wednesday 24 November) in the Maughan Library of King’s College London, which is a most appropriate setting as it has links with Henry III. The building is on the site of the house for converted Jews which he founded in 1232, and his statue is above the gateway. In addition, the present building was home to the Public Record Office  where the rolls were held for over a century before their move in the 1990s to their new home in the National Archives at Kew. Guests  include Lord Douro, Chairman of King’s College London, Professor Rick Trainor, Principal of King’s College London, Professor Sir Alan Wilson, AHRC Chairman, Professor Rick Rylance, AHRC Chief Executive and Professor Jan Drucker, Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University. 

[Image by Naresh Verlander: Professor David Carpenter, AHRC Chief Executive Professor Rick Rylance, AHRC Chairman Professor Sir Alan Wilson, Lord Douro and the Principal, Professor Rick Trainor].

Notes to Editors

King’s College London
King’s College London is one of the top 25 universities in the world (2010 QS international world rankings), The Sunday Times ‘University of the Year 2010/11’ and the fourth oldest in England. A research-led university based in the heart of London, King’s has nearly 23,000 students (of whom more than 8,600 are graduate students) from nearly 140 countries, and some 5,500 employees. King’s is in the second phase of a £1 billion redevelopment programme which is transforming its estate.

King’s has an outstanding reputation for providing world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise for British universities, 23 departments were ranked in the top quartile of British universities; over half of our academic staff work in departments that are in the top 10 per cent in the UK in their field and can thus be classed as world leading. The College is in the top seven UK universities for research earnings and has an overall annual income of nearly £450 million.

King’s has a particularly distinguished reputation in the humanities, law, the sciences (including a wide range of health areas such as psychiatry, medicine, nursing and dentistry) and social sciences including international affairs. It has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA and research that led to the development of radio, television, mobile phones and radar. It is the largest centre for the education of healthcare professionals in Europe; no university has more Medical Research Council Centres.

King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts are part of King’s Health Partners. King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) is a pioneering global collaboration between one of the world's leading research-led universities and three of London's most successful NHS Foundation Trusts, including leading teaching hospitals and comprehensive mental health services. For more information, visit: www.kingshealthpartners.org.

Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University has, since its foundation by the Church of England as a teacher training college in 1962, developed a wide range of taught programmes, research and educational services.

It continues to be the largest centre of higher education in Kent for the major public services. The University has around 18,000 students based in five Faculties: Arts and Humanities, Business and Management, Education, Health and Social Care, Social and Applied Sciences.  Our 1,500 staff also contribute to the University's life and work at our five campuses: Canterbury, Broadstairs, Folkestone (in partnership with the Creative Foundation), Medway (in partnership with the Universities of Greenwich and Kent with Mid-Kent College) and Tunbridge Wells.

AHRC
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) supports world-class research that furthers our understanding of human culture and creativity. Each year the AHRC provides approximately £112 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 700 research awards and around 1,350 postgraduate awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK. http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx

National Archives at Kew
The National Archives is the UK government's official archive, containing over 1,000 years of history. They give detailed guidance to government departments and the public sector on information management and advise others about the care of historical archives. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

For more information

Email: pr@kcl.ac.uk or Tel: 0207 848 3202.

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Renewal of Johns Hopkins collaboration

Paul Rothman signing the agreement with Professor Sir Robert Lechler.

Last week King’s Health Partners and Johns Hopkins Medicine in the United States agreed to renew an international collaboration in research, education and clinical services, as well as the successful staff exchange programme between the two organisations.

On Tuesday 16 July and Wednesday 17 July King’s Health Partners welcomed to London three guests from Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore. The delegation included Paul Rothman, Dean and Chief Executive Officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine; Landon King, Vice Dean for Research at Johns Hopkins Medicine; and Szabolcs Dorotovics, Managing Director of Johns Hopkins Medicine International.

The group met with a wide variety of staff, academics and clinicians as well as the King’s Health Partners Board to find out more about the Academic Health Sciences Centre and discuss how to develop and enhance the collaboration. They toured the Clinical Research Facility at Denmark Hill, the Biomedical Research Centre at Guy’s Hospital and spent time in the historic Gordon Museum of Pathology at King’s College London.

The visit culminated with King’s Health Partners and Johns Hopkins agreeing to continue their partnership at a signing ceremony. The historic links between the organisations were first established in 1947.

Professor Sir Robert Lechler, Executive Director of King’s Health Partners, said: 'Collaborating with Johns Hopkins Medicine offers great opportunities for discovery and improvement. Although our approaches in some areas are quite different, both our organisations are committed to pioneering excellence in research, education and patient care, and there is much that we can learn from one another. I look forward to strengthening our collaboration and seeing the fruits of the work we carry out together.'

The renewed partnership includes an exchange programme that will allow small delegations of staff each year to visit each organisation and spend time learning and sharing information in specific areas of research, education and clinical care.

Johns Hopkins is based in Baltimore, Maryland and is a $6.5 billion integrated health enterprise and the first healthcare system of its kind to combine excellence in research, teaching and patient care in an academic health sciences model.  

Notes to editors

For further media information please contact the Public Relations Department on 0207 848 3202.

Find out more about Johns Hopkins Medicine.

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Brain Cancer vaccine trial

A brain cancer trial that uses a patient’s tumour to develop their own personalised vaccine is being piloted for the first time in the UK.

King’s College London and  King’s College Hospital  – both part of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre – will be the first in the UK to jointly trial the DCVax® therapy which is already significantly extending life for patients in a US trial.

From July, King’s will begin recruiting patients newly diagnosed with Glioblastoma mulltiforme (GBM) - the most common and most aggressive primary malignant form of brain cancer.

Current survival time in the UK following Glioblastoma diagnosis is around 12 -18 months. However, in two initial clinical trials in the US, the vaccine delayed the recurrence of the tumour to two years, and extended patients’ average survival to three years – without toxic side effects.

Patients with suspected Glioblastoma undergo immediate surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible. Patients on the trial will have the same surgery but the removed tumour will be sent to a specialised facility at King’s College London. There, experts will use each patient’s tumour to develop a personalised vaccine using the DCVax® immune therapy.

Following six weeks of standard combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the first personalised vaccine will be administered as a simple injection under the skin in the arm. There will be up to ten injections in total, administered over a two year period.

Mr Keyoumars Ashkan, Lead for Neuro-Oncology at King’s College Hospital said: 'We are pleased to be leading the way in bringing these novel immune therapies to patients in the UK. Brain cancers are some of the most lethal cancers, and there is a great need for new and better treatments.

'The positive data from the clinical trials in the US were very encouraging in delaying disease progression and extending survival times, without significant toxic side effects. We are hopeful that similar results will be seen in the large, randomised clinical trial which we are now helping to bring to the UK.'

King’s sees and treats hundreds of Glioblastoma patients each year, many of whom are in their 40’s and 50’s. Symptoms of Glioblastoma include severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, fits, dizziness and speech problems.

Farzin Farzaneh, Professor of Molecular Medicine and head of cGMP cell product manufacturing at King’s College London, said: 'We are excited to be undertaking the manufacture of the vaccine here at King’s. Such immune therapies represent an exciting new class of products, and we are pleased to apply our expertise and facilities for cell therapy to help bring DCVax® immune therapies to the UK and to collaborating centres in Europe.'

DCVax® is a personalised immune therapy developed by US company Northwest Biotherapeutics. 

Patients interested in being involved in the trial can email patients@nwbio.com for further information.

For further information about King’s, visit our ‘King’s in Brief’ page.

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