Scientist whose father died of Covid-19 set up testing facility at Edinburgh University

A scientist whose father died of Covid-19 used his expertise to set up a virus testing facility at Edinburgh University during the lockdown period.

Dr Juan-Carlos Acosta, 46, was devastated when his father, also called Juan-Carlos, died from Covid-19 on March 23, aged 79.

The cancer scientist from North Edinburgh, who was inspired to pursue a career in the medical sector by his father, was spurred on by his loss to set up the testing facility.

He was not able to travel to Spain to attend the funeral with his mother and brother due to lockdown restrictions. The family finally managed to come together on July 21 in Burgos for a remembrance ceremony for Juan-Carlos senior.

In between carrying on his cancer research from home, Dr Acosta used his expert knowledge and skills to help develop the Covid-19 testing process at the facility at Edinburgh Iniversity’s Institute of Genetic & Molecular Medicine, which was set up to support NHS Lothian to increase its testing capacity at the peak of the outbreak in Scotland.

Dr Acosta said: “I thought about what my father’s response would have been to the pandemic. He would not have stayed at home knowing he could do something. I knew I had the skills to help so, when the opportunity came up, I felt it was my duty to get involved.”

Juan-Carlos senior was a highly respected official in his native Spain and became Director of Public Health for the province of Burgos, leading the response to outbreaks of diseases such as bird and swine flu.

Dr Acosta said: “My father always said he worried that a global pandemic like this was one of the risks we would face in the future. And it happened, and he was one of the people who died from it.”

Dr Acosta followed in his father’s footsteps to enter the world of medicine, and is now a research scientist funded by Cancer Research UK.

He has returned to work following the lockdown, and has now launched a campaign calling for donations from the public to the cancer research charity.

The charity has cut £44 million in research funding after the cancellation of fundraising events during the pandemic led it to expect a £160 million drop in income in the year ahead.

Dr Acosta said: “The message is clear, to save lives tomorrow Cancer Research UK needs the public’s support today.

“Research into cancer is facing a crisis where years and even decades worth of work could be lost in a matter of months. Every day and every pound counts, so I hope people in Edinburgh will give what they can to help us keep making new discoveries.

“As researchers our mission is clear – beat cancer. And with the impact of COVID-19 being keenly felt by people with the disease, it’s never been more important.”