[AngieJayneParticipant]

Gareth Morgan received his doctorate on the genetics of leukemia from the University of London in 1991 and his bachelor of medicine in 1981 from the Welsh National School of Medicine. Since 2003, he has served as a professor of Hematology and director of the Centre for Myeloma Research at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research in London, Europe’s largest comprehensive cancer institute. Morgan is a director of Myeloma UK, the UK’s respected patient organisation, as well as a member of the Scientific Board of the International Myeloma Foundation and Scientific Secretary for the UK Myeloma Forum. He is also a founding director of the European Myeloma Network.

It has today been officially announced that the UK’s Gareth Morgan is the new director of the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. “Morgan, who is currently a clinician and researcher with the Myeloma UK Research Centre at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, will begin at UAMS on a full-time basis in July.

As much of this is written in past tense, it leaves me wondering what the impact shall be, if any, with respect to the UK & particularly Myeloma UK?

• This topic was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by  AngieJayne.
• This topic was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by  AngieJayne.

[duskParticipant]

One wishes to relay congratulations and best wishes to Professor Morgan, whose contribution to the understanding and treatment of myeloma has benefited the UK with the positions he has held. Of course being in USA does not mean the research does not benefit others elsewhere.

 

But in my initial post I raised an issue, not liked, (which from long experience I am fully aware of) regarding ‘careers’ of those whose clinicians treat us; people often seek to move upwards, onwards etc. We are left without their expertise as patients. Of course there are new, others who come along and take up the gaps left. But as with the turn over of GP’s I find meaningful continuity and consistency of care is declining.  Some posts show this here as they seek second opinions when unhappy with their situation.

But with myeloma we need expertise of a broad  high level to be able to make our decisions on what is not a fun journey- even if, for many, more doable than for others.

I hope that Myeloma UK can gain someone of equivalent standing to Professor Morgan to take it forward in the UK.

 

[PhilipandfionaParticipant]

We have been fortunate to have had the benefit of Prof Morgan’s expertise first hand. We heard a while ago from our primary consultant that he is leaving, and at the time felt a bit winded by it and rather thought “how dare he leave us!!”.

If it were up to me I would nail Prof Morgan’s feet to the floor and take away his passport (!) but I recognise that he really should be able to go and do what work he wants, where he wants, and if that helps the general myeloma community, then great. I expect, and trust that those he has worked with and trained are just as good as he is.

I wish him all the best in his new venture.

[ellenModerator]

You may be interested to read our news story on this topic:

http://www.myeloma.org.uk/news/prof-gareth-morgan-moving-to-university-of-arkansas-but-to-continue-leading-role-at-myeloma-uk/

Ellen

[AngieJayneParticipant]

Glad to see there is now some info from this end, thank you Ellen 🙂
UAMS state that Morgan holds more than $10 million of research grant funding from various governmental and private philanthropic sources.
That is certainly a good amount of fuel & will undoubtedly enable him to put his worthy expertise toward the benefit of others.

[dickbParticipant]

People come, people go, the good thing is that their knowledge is normally past to other team members and with their knowledge and experience, research and innovation continues to carry on. There is always a feeling of something lost, a vacuum, when a highly prized team member moves on but that can often lead to an even more capable person taking their place (Man Utd being the exception maybe). Give it 6 months and it will be just a memory.

As Dusk pointed out, Gareth Morgan moving to the States does not neccesarily mean we will not benefit from any future research by him. Research crosses borders and with MM having a strong International recognition, everyone will benefit in time.

[rebeccaRParticipant]

It is worth looking at The myeloma beacon site (as always) – there is a press release out – under the Forum (MM category) detailing the exciting work Prof Morgan will be involved in which is looking at high risk MM/genetics and has already stated the Uk will be involved in the trials. I can only think this is good for the UK – one of our top guys with a massive budget/research centre with more than an interest in the UK benefitting from it.

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