An exhibition of photographs featuring UCL and UCLH researchers is moving to Cambridge on 9 May to shine a light on the world of clinical research.
The highly acclaimed ‘Gathering Light’ exhibition, which was commissioned by the Joint Research Office, is a result of a ground-breaking project in which five clinical researchers and their patients collaborated with award-winning photographer Clare Park to explore their feelings about the challenging journey in clinical research.
The exhibition is moving to the ArtCell Gallery in the Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge Research Institute where it will be opened by the mayor of Cambridge, Councillor Sheila Stuart, on 9 May.
‘Gathering Light’ takes a rare view of the subject of clinical research through the eyes of researchers and patients. The photographs capture the unique relationship between patient and clinician and the hope and human spirit wrapped up in research projects.
The areas covered include the development of gene therapy for patients with blood cancers and the study of the effect of exercise and extreme conditions on the body.
The photography demonstrates how for some patients getting involved in research can be a way of finding hope and purpose. For others it is a way of helping future generations. For researchers the process can be perplexing, exciting or sometimes even gruelling.
Clare Park is an award-winning photographer who explores photographic self-image (for more details go to www.clarepark.tv). Her strong personal style is evident in the posters she devises for theatre companies, such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Opera House and the National Theatre. Alongside this work has been her 20 year project ‘Breaking Form: Buz and Parkinson’s’ with a UCLH patient and his family exploring the impact of Parkinson’s disease. Some of these photographs will also be exhibited, including the portrait that won the Royal Photographic Society’s 153rd International Print Exhibition.
‘Gathering Light’ was first opened at the UCH Street Gallery in April 2012 and received extensive coverage, including a write up of perspectives from Clare Park, researcher Emma Morris and patient John Gebbels on the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research website. To read the full article click here.
Clare said “I realised the title ‘Gathering Light’ as I slowly gathered together many pieces of an elusive jigsaw and made an exhibition out of the human courage and dedication revealed to me by patients/their doctors/nursing staff/families and carers. All the subjects in my photographs are looking away from camera, reflecting their sense of contemplation and inner resolve, each one having written their own captions to accompany the selected images”.
Clinical researcher and haematology consultant, Emma Morris said: “The challenge of this project has been to convey in pictures the unique relationship between a patient and their doctor, when both are involved in medical research. In some circumstances, patients volunteer to take part in studies where the potential benefit to them individually is unknown. It is an extraordinary example of unselfishness, generosity, hope and human spirit. The perseverance, determination and vision of the researcher is more than met by their partner in discovery. We are totally dependent on each other. Clare's thought-provoking photos have brought this into focus”.
Patient John Gebbels said: “My involvement with this project has served as an important insight into what doctors do 'behind the scenes', the extent of which may remain invisible to many other patients. The level of dedication which these doctors commit to their research is quite exceptional. Without this my two complicated stem cell transplants and various associated treatments may not have been possible.”
