All the Fun of the Fair at Cardiff MRC Festival

MRC Centres across the UK and in parts of Africa celebrated the third MRC Festival of Medical Research from 14-24 June 2018.

In Cardiff, at the MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetic and Genomics (MRC CNGG), the team pride themselves on holding inspiring, unique and captivating events to mark the festival and this year was no exception.

They welcomed more than 80 guests to the DEPOT for the evening, where they had a chance to learn about the various areas of research taking place at the MRC CNGG based at Cardiff University.

These conversations were sparked over adapted funfair amusements intended to explain the research in a fun and intriguing format. Hook-a-duck, or in this case Hook-twoparent- ducks, explained our likelihood of inheriting certain traits.

Play Your Genetic Cards Right demonstrated how environment and genetic factors can have a positive or negative affect on us and how we develop. A coconut shy mimicked a sequence of our genome and explained how missing or deleted genes can cause or contribute to neurological conditions.

As well as games, short and snappy talks were hosted in the DEPOT’s Speakeasy. Dr Lynsey Hall, Dr Katie Lewis, Dr Xavier Caseras and Dr James Hrastelj discussed genetics, the genetics of sleep, neuroimaging, and research into multiple sclerosis respectively.

On the night there was a constant flow of pizza slices thanks to Ffwrnes Pizza and magician Adam James Reeves blew everyone away with his close-up magic.

To see more photos from the Science Fair, please visit the MRC CNGG Facebook page.

This is a shortened version of the full article that features in edition 29 of ReMEDy.

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