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David Fairclough at the University of Liverpool(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool FC legend David Fairclough paid tribute to the spirit of Liverpool as the city took a remarkable step forward in the field of science this week.
Gathering at the Yoko Ono Lennon Centre on Oxford Street in the city centre, the former goal scorer joined some of the city's biggest brains to welcome a new initiative backed by the World Health Organisation which is the first of its kind in the UK.
The University of Liverpool launched the first Liverpool Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Centre (LINC) - a world-leading research hub uniting brain and mind research to tackle urgent neurological, neurosurgical, psychiatric, and brain health challenges.
Based at the University of Liverpool, LINC is a partnership with The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Brain Health Northwest (which also includes Mersey Care and Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust) and is responsive to the WHO’s strategic objectives.
Along with its international collaborators, LINC positions Liverpool as a global leader in neuroscience, advancing both research and healthcare delivery.
This impressive move to bring the best minds under one roof to collaborate in research and medicine was a sign of what Liverpool stands for, Professor Ben Michael told the ECHO.
Leading the initiative, Professor Michael said: "I think I'm right in saying that every other university in the country keeps its brain departments and mind departments separate, and often competing for funding.
"I've been in Liverpool for quite a while now and it's the kind of spirit Liverpool has that really made this possible.
He became involved with The Walton Centre following the sudden death of his wife Jan in April 2011.
Jan died at The Walton Centre three days after suffering a brain aneurysm at home.
A statement on the Reds' website said: “Jan was not only a beautiful woman, she was a great mother and supporter of Liverpool FC and the Club's TV channel, LFC TV, where her husband and daughter both work.”
Professor Benedict Michael(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Since Jan's death, David has become a patron of The Walton Centre with children Sophie and Tom.