May 24, 2013, by Lindsay Brooke

Leading scientists made Honorary Freeman of the City of Nottingham

Two Nottingham scientists whose discoveries led to the development of groundbreaking developments in medicine – the MRI scanner and ibuprofen – are set to become Honorary Freemen of the City.

Sir Peter Mansfield, the British inventor of MRI, led a research team at The University of Nottingham between 1960 and 1993.  Sir Peter was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2003 for his contribution to the invention of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). His vision and research have made widespread clinical use of the technique a reality. MRI scanners are today used in hospitals all over the world and it is estimated that over 60 million investigations with MRI are carried out every year.

Dr Stewart Adams studied at what was then University College Nottingham with the aid of a Boots scholarship. Upon graduation with a B Pharm degree, he joined Boots to work on penicillin.  After a time in Leeds on a Pharmaceutical Society Scholarship, Dr Adams moved back to Nottingham to re-join the Boots Research Department and after 7 years working from the front room of a Victorian house on the outskirts of Nottingham, the first active compounds that eventually led to ibuprofen were discovered in the late 1950s. He was awarded an honarary degree by The University of Nottingham in 2008.

Councillor Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said “Nottingham is very proud of the life changing contributions made by Sir Peter Mansfield and Dr Stewart Adams.  Our city is inspired by their contribution to medical science.  I look forward to their installation as Honorary Freemen of the City and seeing their contributions recognised by Nottingham.”

A meeting of Full Council, to be held at 5.00 pm on Monday 8 July 2013,  will confer the title of Honorary Freeman of the City of Nottingham to Sir Peter Mansfield and Dr Stewart Adams.

Sir Peter Mansfield talked about his work when he was awarded the Medical Research Council’s Millenium Medal:

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/researchvideos/peter_mansfield.mp4

 

 

 

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