Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa (HICRA) Re-launch

Posted on Feb 11, 2013 in News by Hatter Institute Comments Off

Following an extensive makeover, necessitated primarily by health and safety concerns, the new, state-of-the-art HICRA was re-launched on 28 January 2013.

Honoured guests at HICRA re-launch: (From left) Prof S Stewart, Lady Irene Hatter, Prof K Sliwa (Director of HICRA), Andrew Hatter, Christine Hatter, Sir Maurice Hatter, Em Prof L Opie (Far right)

Among the many guests joining us to celebrate this exciting event were Prof Bongani Mayosi (Head, Department of Medicine, UCT), Prof Karen Barnes (Deputy Dean of Research, UCT), Prof Marion Jacobs (former Dean of Medicine – who referred to herself as the “has-Dean” as she has just completed her tenure as Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences), as well as the project manager, Ms Gloria Robinson who was the driving force in delivering our beautiful new Institute on schedule.  We were also pleased to have Visiting Professor Simon Stewart from the Baker Institute, Melbourne, Australia.

We were particularly honoured to have Sir Maurice and Lady Irene Hatter and Andrew and Christine Hatter, from the UK, join in the celebrations. Sir Maurice expressed his delight in supporting the Hatter Institute and presented Prof Karen Sliwa, Director of the Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa (HICRA), with a very generous cheque.

Prof Karen Sliwa welcomed the guests and thanked the University of Cape Town, The Hatter Foundation and all the sponsors whose generous support made this much-needed renovation possible.  She also expressed her thanks to all who had to contend with all the disruptions during renovations, particularly all the research groups in the Chris Barnard Building, as well as to the students and staff of the Hatter for their sterling efforts.

Prof Bongani Mayosi, Head, Department of Medicine, thanked Prof Sliwa for her efforts in bringing the upgrade to fruition in record time.  He iterated that the standard had been set and that the Hatter Institute was now the “Jewel in the Crown in the Department of Medicine”.  He also paid tribute to Emeritus Professor Lionel Opie, for his role in establishing the Hatter Institute, together with Professor Derek Yellon (Hatter Institute, University College London).

We are extremely proud of our wonderful new facility and look forward to many years of cutting-edge research.

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