THIS month more than 1500 heart disease experts will travel to Glasgow from around the globe for a world leading conference.

 

The event is expected to generate a £1.6million boost to city businesses and the local economy.

Delegates, who are some of the world's most influential leaders in the field, will discuss scientific discoveries, new clinical guidelines and cutting edge interventions.

The group will include Professor Chris Packard who had a career spanning 40 years in medical research with specific focus on cholesterol, statins and heart disease.

Mr Packard is research and development director with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board, Honorary Professor of vascular biochemistry at Glasgow University and consultant clinical scientist at the health board's department of biochemistry.

He said: "I have spent the majority of my career working in Glasgow both in a hands on capacity in the NHS and in academia to try and discover the causes of and new treatments for heart disease.

"It is widely known heart disease has always been and still is the biggest killer in Scotland so this is very much an issue close to home.

"It was important I used my influence to attract such an important medical meeting to Glasgow.

"Not only is the subject matter relevant and current but Glasgow is a natural fit for a conference like this.

"We are the perfect size with a capacity and capability to handle a meeting of this magnitude at our national conference centre, the SECC.

"We have the perfect networking environment for our guests, the city is known for its affordability and we are well connected to most major cities in Europe."

Mr Packard is one of the city's 1670 ambassadors who have played a pivotal role in attracting meetings to the city.

In the last year, Glasgow conference ambassadors secured 176 conferences worth more than £82m to the city's economy.

City council leader Gordon Matheson said: "Like Professor Packard, our city ambassadors are our shining lights, acting like a beacon to bring business to the city.

"As a city with a history of innovation and with the largest academic community outside of London, it was natural Glasgow established the first conference ambassador programme in the UK.

"We focus heavily on our ambassadors and we provide them with a level of support that is unavailable in other cities in Europe."