Learned societies host seminar on future medical technology

Almost every week it is claimed that a new technology will revolutionise health care. Personalised prescriptions will be tailored to your genetic make-up, nanobots will scavenge toxins within your body, and damaged tissue and organs will be re-grown from your own cells.

Organized by the RSC, together with the Institute of Physics and Institute of Biology, Science and health: Advancing prevention, diagnosis and treatment will consider some of the possible applications of new technologies and assess their potential impact on medicine as well as their social and economic implications. 

The events will cover imaging techniques, nanotechnology in medicine, tissue engineering and the emerging science of pharmacogenetics - the development of genetically personalised medicines. 

The seminar will also look at the economic implications of future healthcare technology. Can we afford it? What sort of burden will the availability of so many medical interventions put on our health system? Does new technology inevitably mean a two tier health system in the UK?

The event will give a fascinating look into the future for our health - but will also tackle some of the political issues we need to consider today.

Speakers

Professor Penny Gowland
Professor of Physics, Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic, Resonance Centre, University of Nottingham

Dr Molly Stevens
Reader in Regenerative Medicine and Nanotechnology, Imperial College London

Professor Paul Elliott
Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, Imperial College London

Professor James Raftery
Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development, University of Southampton

Chair

Professor Sir John Lilleyman
President, Royal Society of Medicine

The seminar will be staged at the Kohn Centre, The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG at 5.30pm 29 March 2006.