Visits to the Vaccine Institute by HRH The Princess Royal

September 25th 2008: Official unveiling of the St. George's Vaccine Institute sundial to commemorate its first decade

By Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Chancellor of the University of London

Her Royal Highness re-visited the Vaccine Institute on September 25th 2008 to mark the first decade since the official opening.

A sundial had been commissioned from the same artist, Marion Brandis, that created the mosaic for the opening.

After greeting Vaccine Institute staff, Her Royal Highness unveiled a plaque explaining the correction between Solar Time and Clock Time, and a plaque to commemorate her visit. Her Royal Highness then toured the Institute facilities where she met members of staff, parents and their children who had participated in trials, and subjects undergoing studies. HRH was shown recreations of various procedures including nasal lavage, diary card recording of symptoms, oral immunisation, cell reactions and measurement of immune responses. HRH was also shown several posters depicting achievements over the past decade, and ongoing and planned studies. After her tour of the Vaccine Institute, HRH visited the Medical School where she was introduced to staff and students, and viewed a photographic exhibition entitled "Hands of Hope" featuring staff and volunteers engaged in clinical trials at St George's.

HRH was introduced by the Principal of St George's Professor Peter Kopelman to: (from left) Dr Paul Heath (Child Health), Professors David Lewis and George Griffin (Infectious Diseases), Mr Neal Deanes (Estates), Ms Elka Giemza, Dr Bela Woodrow (Vaccine Institute), Professor Julian Ma (Infectious Diseases).
Her Royal Highness unveiled plaques explaining the conversion of Solar Time and commemorating her visit.	A bouquet of flowers was presented by Miss Anna-Maria Woodrow, age 8
Her Royal Highness re-visited the mosaic she had unveiled in 1998, noting again the mosquitos in the image	She then met children and their parents who had participated in paediatric trials, with Dr Paul Heath and Dr Eva Galiza (Child Health)
Her Royal Highness saw re-creation of various procedures, including nasal lavage demonstrated by Ms Elka Giemza, Senior Research Nurse
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Her Royal Highness viewed the "Hands of Hope" photographic exhibition
Amongst others, Her Royal Highness was introduced to the artist Ms Marion Brandis who designed and created the sundial	HRH met Mr Tom Cole - coordinator of Gates-funded trials watched by Dr Charles Woodrow, Professor Robin Shattock and members of the Core Immunology team Dr Alethea Cope and Dr Carol Frazer

Click image to learn more about the sundial.

Click image to download the brochure of the photographic exhibition by the international photojournalist Ivo Saglietti