Peninsula Medical School Foundation

'The Peninsula Medical School is achieving great success in medical education and research here in Devon and Cornwall, the impact of which extends far beyond the region. Through charitable funding the Foundation will continue to play an important part in this exciting development'

Dr Mike Inman, Chairman of Foundation Trustees

The Peninsula Medical School Foundation was created in 2003 to support the newly launched Peninsula Medical School. The Peninsula Medical School is a unique partnership between the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter and the NHS in Devon and Cornwall, which provides undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes and a strong medical research centre for the South West.

Supporting Research

The Peninsula Medical School Foundation raises funds to underpin the ambitious research strategy developed by the School. Led by the Dean, Professor Sir John Tooke, a winner of the Queen's Anniversary Prize for his diabetes research, the School is a centre of medical excellence and leads on research into an array of conditions and diseases that affect people today. At our newly completed laboratories at Truro, Plymouth and Exeter the key areas of research are diabetes, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke and the interaction between genes and environmental health.

Supporting Medical Education

From its inception, Foundation has promoted a vigorous widening participation strategy using targeted bursaries to encourage talented people from non traditional backgrounds to study medicine. Foundation ensures that the best students are attracted to the School, regardless of means or background. With more public funding becoming available to support less advantaged students and out reach programmes, Foundation bursaries will also be used to encourage academic excellence amongst our students.

With the assistance of generous individuals and local and national charities Foundation also provides stipends for research students and for medical students undertaking elective study. With fewer talented youngsters being attracted into careers in research there is a danger that the research base in the United Kingdom will contract. For this reason and to take advantage of the research training opportunities presented by our research programmes supporting research students is our major priority.

In just three years, Foundation has raised over £2 million. Much of this has been donated by local people and some has come from Charitable Trusts and Legacy Donations. Foundation also provides support for dental education and research.