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Network Winter 2014 Beyond the Brain Exploring a New Dimension for Dementias Research News from the Medical Research Council network Winter 2014 Beyond the brain Exploring a new dimension for dementias research Investing in the brightest minds Career updates from MRC Centenary Award holders The future of neuroscience is imaging Opinion from Professor Irene Tracey Network can also be downloaded as a PDF at: www.mrc.ac.uk/network Network survey We are keen to receive feedback on the type of news you want to see in Network, suggestions for new features and whether you go online to read more. To share CONTENTS NEWS your views complete our Network survey: survey.mrc.ac.uk/networksurvey COMMENT FROM News Increasing investment Increasing investment for dementias research 3 Fresh direction for the future 5 John for dementias research Making sense of drug safety science 6 The MRC’s pledge to increase funding for dementias research was announced by Prime Minister David Cameron at the G8 summit on Savill dementia held in London in December. Speaking at the summit, Mr CHIEF EXECUTIVE Cameron said: “I want 2013 to go down as the day that the global People fight-back began – not just on finding a cure for dementia, but preventing it, delaying it and critically – helping those with dementia to 21st Nobel Prize for MRC-funded scientists 7 Clinical research isn’t just about live well, and live with dignity”. testing new drugs, diagnostics and devices in patients; it’s also The MRC has committed almost £100m new funding for a range of about studying disease processes research initiatives to boost dementias research. at the molecular, cellular, organ and whole-body level to gain The UK Dementias Research Platform (UKDP) is a unique approach to Latest discoveries new insights into disease. To do this, we need cutting-edge dementias research, looking beyond the brain. The platform is a Compound arrests neurodegeneration in mice 12 technology, from advanced body public-private partnership which aims to improve detection of Other investments include genotyping all 500,000 UK Biobank imaging techniques and new pre-symptomatic and early stage neurodegenerative disease. GSK is participants, with the Department of Health; renewed funding for the New light shone on consciousness 12 ways to monitor physiology, to the first industry partner to commit funding to the platform. MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge for dementia methods for studying the intricacies of cells and tissue research; and genotyping and imaging of brain tissue samples from outside the body. The MRC is co-funding, with the National Institute for Health MRC-funded brain banks. Research, a feasibility study for the UKDP to determine whether That’s why in November we invited expressions of interest people with early-stage neurodegenerative disease would be willing To find out more about the UK Dementias Platform turn to page 8 Funding to the MRC’s ‘Enhancing the UK’s Clinical Research to participate in innovative phenotyping studies, involving intensive and for more information see our website at: Capabilities and Technologies’ initiative. In partnership physiological assessments. www.mrc.ac.uk/dementias-research with the Department of Health, the Wellcome Trust, Imaging investment for UK Biobank 20 CRUK, BHF, ARUK, BBSRC, EPSRC, ESRC and devolved administrations, we will make over £150m available Funding more research for human health 21 for investment in new technologies to address major scientific challenges, relating to the stratification of diseases or experimental studies in humans. Investments will be aligned with academic research strengths and institutional clinical structures. Understanding animal research Features As well as capital, funds are available to fully exploit A BBC five live documentary broadcast from MRC Harwell has In late 2013, Understanding Animal Research provided an technologies, piloting new uses and exploring new areas won the Live journalism – radio category at the 2013 international opportunity for the public to comment on draft guidance for Beyond the brain: a new dementia research dimension 8 in clinical research. Institutions are also encouraged to broadcasting awards. how organisations could be more open about the ways in which seek partnerships with industry and complement existing animals are used in scientific, medical or veterinary research in the Saving the brain from itself 10 infrastructure investments. Facilities will be available The programme, the Victoria Derbyshire Show, was an example of UK. In collaboration with the MRC, the British Pharmacological as part of the national science base – putting clinical how openness can provide excellent opportunities to talk about Society and supported by Sciencewise, Understanding Animal Investing in the brightest minds 14 research at the heart of the UK life sciences. animal research. The judges described the documentary as “classic Research conducted a public dialogue project which informed the Rising to the global challenge 16 Sir John Savill investigative journalism and in-depth reporting, well-balanced and Concordat on Openness. Following the public consultation, the draft MRC Chief Executive thoroughly researched”. concordat will be refined and a final version published in early 2014. My work space: Professor Jimmy Bell 18 Read more information on the Concordat on Openness here: Opinion: The future of neuroscience is imaging 22 mrc.io/uar-concordat. Listen to the award-winning programme online: mrc.io/victoriaderbyshire 2 | MRC Network MRC Network | 3 NEWS Three decades of sex surveys revealed Fresh direction for the future The refreshed Strategic Plan Research Changes Lives 2014–2019, launched at the MRC 100 The third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles of the conversation we have with people about our health.” years of international collaboration event at the Royal Society in December, sets out our (Natsal) survey provides the most detailed picture yet of the Six papers are published online in a special issue of The Lancet: strategy for the next five years. British population’s sex lives over the past 10 years. mrc.io/natsal-comment It describes how, through the support of excellent discovery science and effective As the largest scientific study of sexual health and lifestyles in partnerships, we strive to secure tangible impact from MRC research. Views from Britain, the first Natsal survey was undertaken in 1990 and the stakeholders and the wider research community informed its development, ensuring that second in 1999. The researchers, part-funded by the MRC from we continue to build on our strengths and achievements of the last century. Looking to the University College London (UCL), the London School of Hygiene future, the strategic plan sets out our priorities to accelerate the pace of improvements in health, stimulate economic growth, encourage partnerships and communicate our vision and Tropical Medicine, and NatCen Social Research, interviewed for addressing health and wealth to the public. over 15,000 adults aged 16-74 between September 2010 and August 2012. Read Research Changes Lives 2014–2019 at: www.mrc.ac.uk/strategicplan Studying this large sample of people living in Britain has shown how Turn to page 17 to read more about the MRC 100 years of international collaboration event sexual attitudes and lifestyles have changed dramatically in the last 60 years. Principal Investigator Professor Dame Anne Johnson of UCL, said: “This new information will help to guide the sexual health and education services that people may need at different stages of their lives. We need to do more to create an environment in which See the full infographic at: mrc.io/natsal-stats and a video it is easier for people to discuss sexual well-being as an integral part describing the survey here: mrc.io/natsal-interview MRC Centenary celebrated in Scottish Parliament 1913-2013 Music, dancing, listening, concerts, clubs, cabarets: A debate to celebrate the MRC Centenary was held in the Scottish Parliament on 26 November. The motion ‘The future of medical How does your listening past affect your hearing future? research funding in Scotland remains strong’ was addressed by eight MSPs. The debate was supported by the Scottish Our second mass public participation project A Century of Amplified Music, run in Conservative and Unionist party’s Murdo Fraser, regional MSP for conjunction with the Medical Research Foundation, is now live and you are invited Mid-Scotland and Fife. Research reflections to take part online. The Scottish National Party (SNP) Government had released their White To commemorate the MRC Centenary year, the The experiment asks about your music listening habits over the years, and gives Paper on Independence earlier the same day and so it was natural that in International Journal of Epidemiology has you the opportunity to do a short listening experiment, called a speech-in-noise addition to listing the achievements of MRC-funded researchers working featured publications from the past in their test, which gives a measurement of your ability to identify words in a background in Scotland, the future source of funding, should Scotland achieve ‘Reprints and Reflections series’ which are of of noise. By taking part, you will help MRC Institute of Hearing Research scientists independence, was addressed. They stated they wish to negotiate importance to researchers and the MRC today. learn more about hearing loss. The experiment is open to everyone, whether continued funding from the UK research councils post-independence. Each paper is accompanied by commentaries
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