Gunther Von Hagens' Manchester Exhibition Attracts 20 New UK Body Donors

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Transplants / Organ Donations
Article Date: 13 Aug 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Since Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS 4 opened at Manchester's Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) on February 22nd this year, 20 more British Body Donors have pledged their bodies for Plastination and educational purposes under a unique body donation programme.

The total of British people who have become body donors now stands at 127. As of August 2008, the Institute for Plastination's Body Donation roster includes 8626 living donors from around the world (among them, 7366 Germans and 127 UK citizens) and 600 deceased donors.

Joanne Pennington, a student in her final year of microbiology at Salford University is one such donor. Commenting on her decision she said: 'I have been thinking about it for the last 3 or 4 years. As a scientist myself, I would like for my body to be of use after death for educating both medical and laypeople. I admire Gunther von Hagens' work and think more people should consider leaving their bodies for Plastination after death.'

Seen by more than 25 million visitors in 45 cities around the world, Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS are the only anatomical exhibitions with an established body donation programme, and the only anatomical exhibitions that use donated bodies. With the exception of foetuses from historical anatomical collections pre-dating 1920, and some small organs from hospital anatomy and pathology programmes -- all of the specimens in BODY WORLDS (more than 180 out of 200 specimens per exhibit), originate from the Institute for Plastination's Body Donation Programme, established in Heidelberg in 1982 and managed by the Institute for Plastination since 1993.

During Plastination, bodily fluids and soluble fats are extracted from a specimen, and replaced through vacuum-forced impregnation, with reactive resins and elastomers, such as silicon rubber. The specimen is then cured with light, heat, or certain gases, which gives it rigidity and permanence.

Approximately 95% of Body Donors agree to have their Plastinated remains shown in BODY WORLDS exhibitions, with the remainder stipulating that their organs and bodies are used solely by medical teaching establishments.

Originally scheduled to close on the 29th June, BODY WORLDS 4 has been extended until the 17th August to accommodate demand.

About BODY WORLDS 4

Dr Gunther von Hagens, a licensed physician and former researcher at the University of Heidelberg's Anatomy and Pathology Department, invented Plastination in 1977, in an effort to improve the education of medical students. The exhibition emphasises the importance of healthy lifestyles, and includes several plastinates posed in sporting activities, such as badminton, running and jumping, to demonstrate muscle function.

The organs and whole-body plastinates in the exhibition derive from people who have, in their lifetime, generously donated their bodies for Plastination, to specifically educate future generations about health. More than 8,000 donors including 127 from Britain have bequeathed their bodies to von Hagens' Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg, Germany.

Since opening on 22 February the world premiere of BODY WORLDS 4 has attracted over 240,000 visitors. Originally scheduled to close on 29 June, the exhibition will now remain in Manchester until 17 August, before moving to Brussels.

BODY WORLDS 4 is supported by the British Red Cross, the Association of European Cancer Leagues and the Polycystic Kidney Disease charity.

BODY WORLDS 4

About the Museum of Science and Industry

MOSI is currently home to BODY WORLDS 4 which is on display until the 17th August 2008. The exhibition is the culmination of Dr. von Hagens' 30 year career in anatomy. The BODY WORLDS 4 premiere in Manchester features numerous plastinates never seen before. Previous exhibitions of BODY WORLDS have attracted over 25 million visitors, making it the most highly attended touring exhibition in the world.

The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), located at Liverpool Road, Manchester, is a charitable trust (registration 518412) which receives revenue funding from The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). MOSI is dedicated to making Science and Industry inspirational to all, while highlighting our specific region's rich and continuous contribution to scientific endeavour and education.

Our vision is to be a world class cultural attraction right at the heart of everything Manchester has to offer.

Museum of Science and Industry

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