IT pioneer donates £1m in memory of son to help fight autism
A leading UK businesswoman is to give a seven-figure sum to a research centre dedicated to understanding autism and other intellectual disabilities.
Dame Stephanie ‘Steve’ Shirley, a pioneering figure of the IT industry now turned philanthropist, has pledged £1million to the Patrick Wild Centre at the University of Edinburgh.
Since the death of her son Giles, 35, who suffered from autism and epilepsy, Dame Stephanie has increasingly focused her energy on philanthropic work through her foundation.
The donation will go towards creating a world-class, state-of-the-art imaging suite which will enable scientists to study the condition in new ways.
The Patrick Wild Centre for Research into Autism, Fragile X Syndrome and Intellectual Disabilities brings together university specialists who want to develop and test new treatments having pinpointed how genetic changes cause the illness.
Dame Stephanie founded the software company FI Group now known as Xansa / Steria in the 1960s. She adopted the name “Steve” to help her in the male-dominated business environment of the day.
The Shirley Foundation is one of the top grant-giving foundations in the UK with well over £50million grants awarded. One of its aims is to support scientific research to discover the causes of autism.
The Patrick Wild Centre was set up last year following donations to the University by graduate, Dr Alfred Wild and Gus Alusi and Reem Waines, a London-based family whose six-year-old son, Kenz has Fragile X Syndrome. The centre is named in memory of Dr Wild’s brother Patrick, who was severely autistic, and as a tribute to their parents who cared for Patrick throughout his life.
Dame Stephanie said:
“The big question is what causes autism as distinct from what it looks like. Research has moved beyond looking at its consequences to examine how biology, genetics and behaviour all link together.
Results cannot be guaranteed but my hope is that this imaging suite will attract more quality researchers to focus on autism.”
Peter Kind, professor of developmental neuroscience and co-director of the centre, added:
“It is becoming clear that many forms of autism result from changes in how brain cells talk to each other. Modern imaging techniques allow us to monitor brain cell communication to gain insights into the potential causes of and treatments for autism.”
Dr Andrew Stanfield, consultant psychiatrist and co-director of the centre continued:
“We are incredibly grateful to Dame Stephanie for this generous gift which we hope will play a part in developing better treatments for people with autism and related disorders.”
Autism is a serious, lifelong and disabling condition. There are more than half a million people in the UK with autism and to date, there is no licensed treatment.
Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited form of intellectual disability, and the most common known genetic cause of autism spectrum disorders. It affects an estimated 12,000 – 15,000 people in the UK. The condition is the result of a genetic mutation and takes its name from the ‘fragile’ appearance of the X chromosome on which this gene appears. The disorder can cause severe learning difficulties and language impairment, sensory hypersensitivity, and behavioural symptoms such as anxiety, attentional difficulties and hyperactivity.
Supporting the Patrick Wild Centre
Posted: 16th February 2012