• 7th November 2023

A Blue Plaque to honour the pioneering work of Marina Seabright, who was the founding Director of the Wessex Regional Cytogenetics Unit at Salisbury Infirmary, has been installed on the front elevation of the former Salisbury Infirmary building. 

Marina discovered the trypsin G-banding technique (published in the Lancet in 1971) and was hugely influential in the emerging field of cytogenetics in the 1960s up until her retirement in 1987. She was also the first secretary of the Association of Clinical Cytogenetics, working with Alan McDermott to establish our genetic professional network. 

Marina retired on 31st December 1987 on the same day as her appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for her contribution to cytogenetics was announced in the New Year Honours list.

The ceremony, organised by the Salisbury Civic Society, to install the plaque took place on 6th September. Nick Dennis, retired Consultant Clinical Geneticist, and John Harvey, retired Consultant Clinical Scientist/Head of Molecular Genetics, who both worked closely with Marina shared some of their personal recollections and amusing anecdotes of their time working with Marina. They were also fortunate to have other former colleagues able to join what was a very special event.