Professor Holgate steps down as Chair of the Asthma, Allergy and Inflammation Research (AAIR) charity

The charity has been very successful, awarding grants in the region of £6M to the University. At a recent Trustees meeting the charity agreed to purchase 3 major items of equipment and fund a PhD studentship in the Faculty of Medicine.

As Professor Holgate CBE now has much responsibility in Government, particularly with the Higher Education Authorities, Research Councils and the European Respiratory Society, he has decided to step down as Chairman of AAIR. The Trustees have elected Professor Donna Davies to the role of Chairperson and Professor Holgate will become the charity’s Honorary President and will remain a Trustee and Patron.

Also this year two of the Patrons of AAIR have sadly passed away. Roger Brooke OBE was a generous University benefactor and gave almost £1m to Professors Holgate's and Davies' research unit to generate the Brooke Laboratory Research Laboratories at the University Hospital in Southampton. He also funded a number of other research activities within the University.

Sadly the AAIR charity lost another Patron with the passing of Sir Patrick Moore, famous for his work in astronomy and his charismatic public engagement on television and radio, but also a strong supporter of AAIR.

The charity is holding a combined memorial, remembrance and Christmas service at the Above Bar Church, High Street, Southampton on Friday 6 December 2013 at 7.00pm. This will not be a fund raising event and anyone with any links with AAIR who has a desire to remember loved ones are very welcome to attend.