Two world-renowned teams of experts on Egyptian mummies have joined forces in an international effort to better
understand disease and its treatment in ancient Egypt.
The University of Manchester's Centre for Biomedical Egyptology and Cairo's National Research Center have signed a formal
agreement to enhance future academic research and teaching in the field.
The Manchester-Cairo alliance will promote cooperation between the two institutions by supporting joint research activities
and encouraging visits and exchanges by their staff and students.
"This is a unique opportunity to work with Egypt's foremost, scientific-research institution and share our expertise," said
Professor Rosalie David, head of Egyptian-mummy studies in Manchester.
"By creating this partnership we hope to be able to shed more light on the diseases and ailments that afflicted the ancient
Egyptians, and on the medical treatments used thousands of years ago."
One of the initial joint studies will be the first scientifically-based identification of the therapeutic elements of the
medicines used by the ancient Egyptians.
Members of both teams will also investigate the craniofacial characteristics of ancient Egyptian skulls dating back some
5,000 years - to the time when the earliest pyramids were built.
Researchers will also pursue a study of disease patterns, including schistosomiasis, a debilitating parasitic disease that
the Manchester group has been studying for several years.
The relationship was proposed by the President of the National Research Center, Professor Hany El-Nazer, and follows a visit
to the Cairo Center by six members of the Manchester team in January.
During the 10-day visit Manchester experts took part in a workshop on the biological evaluation of human remains from ancient
Egypt, giving lectures and leading discussions with staff and postgraduate students from universities and museums in Egypt.
"The workshop was an excellent opportunity for the two groups to discuss their current research projects and to share their
knowledge with others," added Professor David.
The University of Manchester, created from the merger of The Victoria University of Manchester and UMIST in October 2004, is
the UK's largest university with 9,000 staff and 28,802 full-time-equivalent students and an annual income of £490.5m.
Reference URL
manchester.ac/press/title,26474,en.htm
SOURCE: alphagalileo