How legacy gifts are shaping Sheffield’s future
On Friday 6th November it was an honour to welcome over 160 people to Firth Court for the Heritage Circle Lunch.
The Heritage Circle Lunch event is an opportunity to show the University’s heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for those alumni, friends and former staff who have generously pledged to leave a gift to the University in their Will.
Guests were greeted by David Meadows (Senior Philanthropy Manager) and Rob Grimes (Director of Development and Alumni Relations), before host Professor Sue Hartley (Vice-President for Research and Innovation) opened the event and expressed her thanks for the community’s continued support. Sue also provided an update on the University’s recent successes including being named as a world top-100 university.
Following a wonderful lunch, guests enjoyed two inspiring talks illustrating how legacy giving directly fuels ground-breaking research and institutional growth whilst highlighting projects making a real-world impact in very different fields.
The Trojan horse against cancer: How bacteria could transform treatment
The first talk was presented by Professor of Immuno-oncology Munitta Muthana, who explored how researchers are turning tiny, naturally magnetic bacteria into miniature delivery vehicles. By acting as "Trojan horses," these remarkable microbes can carry medicines deep inside hard-to-reach cancers—paving the way for cancer treatments that are more precise, more effective, and much kinder to patients.
BRIDGES for Dementia: Rethinking how technology can help people with dementia live independent lives
The second talk was delivered by Senior Research Fellow Dr Jennifer MacRitchie, who introduced the work of the BRIDGES for Dementia Network+. Jennifer shared how the network is shifting the research paradigm by connecting researchers directly with people living with dementia post-diagnosis. This collaborative approach ensures technology empowers individuals rather than pre-defining what they can or cannot do.
After the presentations, guests were thanked for their invaluable contributions to the University community. The afternoon concluded with refreshments, giving attendees the opportunity to chat with fellow guests and ask questions directly to our featured researchers and staff.
If you would like more information on leaving a gift to the University of Sheffield in your Will, please contact David Meadows on 0114 222 1073 or d.meadows@sheffield.ac.uk.