Report on the AGM of the Trustees of the British Pigeon Fanciers Medical Research Trust
Held at the SHU Offices Hamilton on Wed. 06/02/08

Present:- Dr Gavin Boyd Medical Director, Dr Ken Anderson consultant Respiratory Physician,and Dr Charles Mc Sharry consultant Immunologist Biomedical Research Centre Glasgow University. Trustees- George Pollock honorary Secy./Treasurer, Bill Frame, Dr PP Lynch, Tom Davidson President SNFC, Andrew Garven Secy. SNFC, Ian Noble Vice President SHU.

This was a very successful and productive meeting with wide ranging discussions on Pigeon fanciers lung. The report to the press of the Research Teams attendance at the recent BHW Show of the Year at Blackpool was presented and approved. The Balance sheet and accounts were also presented and approved - copy enclosed.

The confirmation of the donation of £25,000 by the Show of The Year enabled the Trustees to budget and proceed with the setting up of a PhD Thesis on further Tissue Study Research by Iona Donnelly our Research Scientist on Statins and other potential blocking agents to Pigeon Lung - over the next two years. This will be on the same financial terms, namely we continue to pay half the salary and the University pays the other half.

Dr Ken Anderson Consultant Respiratory Physician at Crosshouse NHS Hospital Kilmarnock is a longstanding member of the Research Team. Ken plans to run an Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis Clinic including Pigeon Lung under the NHS on one day per week at the Hospital. This initiative would be beneficial to the Research and renew a much needed clinical facility previously provided by Dr Gavin Boyd our Medical Director before his retirement. The Trustees agree with this in principle and have budgeted a potential £10,000 for one year towards this initiative. We now await a formal letter from Dr Anderson detailing costings before taking matters further.

The Trustees, in response to feed back from the Research Coordinator, have agreed to look into the provision of a sample pack for fanciers to take to their GP when requesting a blood sample be sent by their GP to our lab for assay. Some GPs do not have suitable shatter proof containers to send blood samples to us by Post under the Health and Safety regulations.

To speed up the process of the return of the result of the blood test to fanciers, the Trustees have arranged to organise the return of results direct from the laboratory at the Biomedical Research Centre at Glasgow University. This will now be under the direct control of Iona Donnelly our Research scientist in cooperation with Dr McSharry, Dr Ken Anderson and the Research Coordinator Ken Boyd who will also continue to service and update the website www.pigeon-lung.co.uk aided by Dr Gavin Boyd our Medical Director.

The Trustees wish to thank the SHU for the use of their offices for the meeting and for the excellent hosting facilities provided by Linda Brooks and her staff on the day.

The Trustees are very aware of the magnificent financial and practical support for the Research throughout the British Fancy without which the Research would not exist. We thank you one and all for your continued support.

Yours sincerely,
Dr PP Lynch
Chairperson BPFMRT