News from the Medical Research Council January / February 2010

Getting under your skin The story of magnetic resonance imaging and the MRC Open invitation to innovation Patrick Vallance, GSK’s Head of Drug Discovery, speaks his mind on academic collaboration with industry January / February 2010 Comment from Contents Sir Leszek Borysiewicz 4 News 10 Opinion: Patrick Vallance, Head of Drug Discovery, Contrary to what we often hear, young people’s interest in and enthusiasm for GlaxoSmithKline science is not dead – it’s very much alive and kicking. I saw compelling evidence of this 12 Funding recently when I had the pleasure of visiting the Langton School in Canterbury, Kent. From 14 Research Roundup developing a cosmic ray detector using technology from the Large Hadron Collider, 18 Getting under your to carrying out research on a gene involved in skin – the MRC and MRI multiple sclerosis, the Langton’s innovative and exciting science projects are an amazing 20 MRC People example of what can be achieved with a spark of enthusiasm, a lot of hard work, and a burning desire to tackle real scientific problems. I first came across the Langton School when I met some of the pupils at the Royal Society’s Summer Science Festival. They invited me to visit the school to see some of the projects they are working on, and I was delighted to accept: you can read about what I saw in more detail on the opposite page. I was extremely impressed by the enthusiasm of the teachers and the pupils, and their willingness to take on challenging and innovative new problems. But some might argue that pupils at a selective grammar school are bound to do well. And therein lies the tragedy: not all young people get this sort of encouragement. I know of very different schools in more deprived areas of the UK where teaching is little more than crowd control and there is slim hope of anyone learning much, let alone being given the chance to nurture their ideas. This is even more of a tragedy when you consider that many young people are switched on to science early in life, fascinated by the world around them and how it works. If we miss this vital window of opportunity, we miss the chance to develop the scientists of tomorrow.  I would like all young people to have access to “ inspirational science and scientists, no matter New look for Network what their circumstances and background. I would like all young people to have access to inspirational science and scientists,” Network has been refreshed for 2010 with a new design and format. This issue, the new Opinion no matter what their circumstances and background. And that’s where we come in. section features Patrick Vallance, Head of Drug Scientists have a key role in providing this inspiration whenever and however we can. Discovery at GlaxoSmithKline, who speaks out about Some of the upcoming opportunities to engage young people with science in 2010 why MRC scientists cannot afford to ignore chances are listed on the facing page. I hope that one day, with the help of the research to get involved with industry. The new-look Network community, the science learning revolution I encountered at the Langton School will also has an expanded Research Roundup section and spread across the UK and inspire a new generation of young scientists who are a new Funding section in which you can read about itching to find out the answers to intriguing scientific problems. some of the MRC’s recently funded research. I wish you a happy and productive new year. We are always glad to receive feedback and suggestions for new features from our readers, Sir Leszek Borysiewicz so let us know what you think by emailing [email protected].

2 | MRCNetwork How scientists can get involved Case study: the simon Langton Throughout 2010 there are a host of opportunities for scientists to engage with young people and ignite their enthusiasm for science. Grammar school, Canterbury, kent science festivals being run across the UK this spring offer the Four years ago Dr Becky Parker, Head of Physics at the Simon Langton Grammar chance to get primary school age children interested, by running School, joined her students up to the Faulkes Telescope Project, a scheme which science-based activities. The MRC takes part in all the major provides schools with free access to robotic telescopes in Australia and Hawaii. science festivals across the UK, and relies on students, scientists But the students weren’t content with just using the telescopes – they wanted to and science support staff to volunteer their time to make these take part in the search for Near Earth Objects. Within a month, the students had activities a success. At this year’s Edinburgh Science Festival, for discovered two new asteroids which have been published on Harvard University’s example, MRC staff and students are running activities for children Minor Planets Database. A learning revolution had begun. aged 7 and up on testing reaction times, verbal skills, and left and right-handedness. The school has since set up a laboratory, the Langton Star Centre, in its grounds, • Oxfordshire science Festival (6 –21 March) and in 2008 six of Becky’s students visited NASA and CERN scientists and secured their help in developing a new cosmic ray detector, which they have • University of Cambridge science Festival named LUCID. The Langton Star Centre has created a National Cosmic Ray (12–21 March) Schools grid, consisting of more than 30 schools, to share information and data • e dinburgh science Festival (3–17 April) from the satellite so students can do real research from high quality data. • Cheltenham science Festival (9–13 June) “LUCID and the Star Centre are not just public engagement activities – the Careers talks in schools can help to create the next generation students are working on new, relevant research,” says Becky. “For example, NASA of research scientists by getting more young people interested in have told us that we will be the first people to get CERN technology into space.” science before they make their GCSE/Standard Grade and A-level/ Higher Grade subject choices. “Our philosophy is that students don’t just suddenly become bright when they go to university – they are bright now, aged 15 or 16. We view our students as Offering work placements gives Year 12 and 13/S5 and S6 scientists who are capable of carrying out real research.” school students the experience of working on real medical research problems before they apply for university, and may inspire them This dynamic approach goes beyond the physics department. Two Year 13 to do a science degree. students recently won a Dragon’s Den-style competition to spend a week at Unit and centre open days are a way in which scientists can Pfizer synthesising drugs they had designed using real data. help teachers make lessons more relevant and exciting by updating Meanwhile with Wellcome Trust funding and the first ever Genetic Modification teachers whose science knowledge may be rusty after years away Committee Licence to be awarded to a school in the UK, biology teacher Dr from the lab bench. Dave Colthurst has established the Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) project. This is Scientists with their own ideas for debates, talks, exhibits, genuine genetics research into how the process of phosphorylation affects MBP, demonstrations or other activities should consult their unit run by the students at lunchtimes and in free periods. Their findings could shed communications plan (known as Annex 11 in Centres’ applications) light on how the insulating myelin sheath around nerves is attacked and to see which activities are being planned. These are available from destroyed by the immune system in multiple sclerosis patients. Ninety students unit and centre directors, or through MRC Regional Communications are involved, divided into teams with responsibility for different parts of the Managers. experiment – from DNA analysis to bioinformatics. Each team is coordinated by seed-funding to support new activities and ideas is available a Year 13 student, who must apply to be appointed. This year they will start to from the MRC, as is training in public communication. use basic genetic engineering techniques to produce human MBP in yeast cells so that they can examine how To find out more, MRC staff and students should contact their the protein and cell interact. MRC Regional Communications Manager: One Year 13 coordinator says: Cambridge and Midlands: Adrian Penrose “What I really enjoy about MBP ([email protected]) is being able to do something scotland: Hazel Lambert ([email protected]) that’s real – it’s more interesting Oxford, south and southwest: Jude Eades ([email protected]) when you understand the point London and south east: Erika Doyle ([email protected]) of the project and what it all actually means.” Dr Dave Colthurst and the MBP project members.

MRCNetwork | 3 News

UKCMRI plans revealed

Building designs and scientific strategy have biomedical research endeavour and fostering been unveiled for UKCMRI, a new world- innovation and translation. leading biomedical research institute in central Scientists at UKCMRI will carry out London. interdisciplinary, fundamental research into UKCMRI (UK Centre for Medical Research and cancer, circulatory diseases, infectious diseases Innovation) is an ambitious project supported of the immune and nervous systems, and the by a partnership of four major UK research multiple degenerative conditions associated funders, including the MRC. UKCMRI will carry with ageing. out research aimed at understanding the The facility will be constructed on 3.6 acres of causes of common diseases, develop new land to the north of the British Library, in the St treatments to safeguard the health of generations Pancras and Somers Town area of north to come, and help to keep Britain at the London. Work is scheduled to begin on the site forefront of scientific endeavour and in early 2011, for completion in late 2014 or innovation. early 2015. The plans were unveiled in December at a press Professor Sir Paul Nurse, Chairman of Scientific conference held by UKCMRI’s partners: the Planning at UKCMRI, said: “We are one step MRC, Cancer Research UK, the Wellcome Trust closer to setting up this important research Sir Leszek Borysiewicz and UCL (University College London). They centre. UKCMRI will be the most exciting revealed a first glimpse of UKCMRI’s research project for UK biomedical research in the next Sir Leszek to move on in 2010 strategy, which will focus on research 50 years. Its ambition is immense and the excellence, training and developing future promise of what can be achieved will excite MRC Chief Executive Sir Leszek Borysiewicz scientific leaders, supporting the UK’s and energise the global scientific community.” has been nominated by the University of Cambridge Council as Vice Chancellor for the next period of office. Sir Leszek will leave the MRC to take over from Professor Alison Richard on 1 October 2010. Sir Leszek has led the MRC through a period of significant change since he took the helm in October 2007, and has had a profound effect on the MRC’s strategic direction and focus. He said: “I have been proud to help the MRC build on its long and successful history of improving human health through the impact of its excellent research. I’ll be sad to leave but I know that the MRC will make the most of opportunities that lie ahead. Our new world class research centre (UKCMRI) is just one of the exciting projects that will help to maintain the UK’s international reputation for first class science.” Sir Leszek is committed to ensuring a smooth succession over the coming year, and plans to recruit a new Chief Executive are now underway. The new Chief Executive appointment is made by the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills.

An artist’s impression of how UKCMRI will look.

4 | MRCNetwork Swindon and London split for MRC’s Head Office Putting mental health on the agenda Plans are underway for MRC Head Office functions and objectives, management and utilisation of to be split across two sites, in London and business information and some communications Parliamentarians, research scientists and charity representatives gathered in Westminster in Swindon, when the lease on the current premises activities. December for a briefing on research into mental at Park Crescent expires at the end of 2010. The transition to the two new head office health, organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Decisions on the structures for the two offices locations will be complete by the time the lease Group on Medical Research. have been made on the basis of business on Park Crescent expires in December and Professor Chris Kennard, chair of the MRC functions, with the aim that the two Head Office updates will be available later in the year as the Neurosciences and Mental Health Board, sites complement each other in providing relocation progresses. outlined current developments within the MRC: corporate direction and support for the MRC. The decision to relocate head office was made “The MRC remains committed to developing the UK research base in mental health with a view to A new, smaller London office with 90 staff will in response to the Government’s 2004 Lyons supporting more mental health research. We are lead on science strategy and policy, high level Review. The review proposed the relocation of undertaking a review of this field which will be management of the MRC’s portfolio, many public sector activities from London and published soon. We are also developing profiles partnerships with other funders and some of the the South East to other parts of the UK in order of areas of research where there are MRC’s communications activities. The Swindon to save public money, boost regional economies opportunities to make the biggest impact, which office will house business strategy and and disperse the delivery of government we hope to be able to support. governance, delivery of the MRC’s scientific aims business. “Mental health research proposals are as successful as those in other areas of neuroscience, but the number of applications is undoubtedly lower, and this is a capacity New centre to fight muscle wasting diseases problem. The challenge for us, as strategic leaders of research, is to raise the game of The centre’s director, consultant neurologist academic psychiatry in order to drive capacity in Professor Michael Hanna, said: “Although this field.” there have been many important genetic and molecular discoveries in this research area, The briefing coincided with the publication of there are still very few effective treatments for New Horizons: a shared vision for mental health, neuromuscular diseases. This centre provides an which sets out the Government’s approach to exciting opportunity to translate basic scientific tackling the problems associated with mental research into clinical trials involving patients. health from both an individual and a societal perspective. To read New Horizons, go to “Ultimately, we aim to develop new treatments www.dh.gov.uk/newhorizons for disabling diseases such as motor neuron Sir Leszek Borysiewicz officially opens the new centre. disease. We will also actively recruit and train the December saw the opening of a new research next generation of neuromuscular scientists and centre in London which will house research into clinicians to continue to make progress in the adult muscle wasting diseases such as muscular future.” dystrophy. While the MRC is funding research at the centre, The new Queen Square Centre for Neuro­ the building development was funded by The muscular Diseases is based at the National National Hospital Development Foundation and Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and patients with the support of the Comprehensive the UCL (University College London) Institute of Biomedical Research Centre. Neurology. The MRC is funding the centre’s research, which will combine patient care with cutting edge research into new treatments. A unique biobank of tissues and cells from neuromuscular patients will be established to aid research, and the centre will also carry out clinical trials and develop state-of-the-art Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to aid diagnosis of nerve and muscle disease.

MRCNetwork | 5 MRC scientists support cancer open day Successful launch for MRC e-Val

Bringing cancer research to life was one of ROB post-doctoral researcher Dr Isabel Pires MRC e-Val, the MRC’s online system for collecting outputs, outcomes and impacts the aims of a special Cancer Centre Open joined her colleague Dr Martin Christlieb to from all MRC funded research, had a Day held at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford demonstrate how MRC researchers are studying successful launch late last year, with over in November. the behaviour of cancer cells and tumours and 2,000 researchers using the system during the developing new diagnostic approaches for data collection period in November and Organised by the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS patients. Using specially-created interactive December. Trust and the University of Oxford, the event models, visitors were able to learn more about gave the public a unique behind-the-scenes measuring tumour hypoxia, evaluating cancer Data were submitted for over 2,533 opportunity to explore the new £109 million patient prognosis and the difficulties of creating MRC-funded research projects/programmes, Cancer Centre and its facilities. radioactive molecules ready for treatment. which equates to over 80 per cent of the researchers approached. The Old Road Research Building, home to the Isabel said: “People are interested to know what part MRC-funded Gray Institute for Radiation, the future holds for cancer treatments. This sort Dr Ian Viney, Head of Evaluation at the MRC, Oncology and Biology (ROB) was also opened to of event is extremely important for the public said: “We are very pleased with the visitors. They took part in hands-on activities and cancer sufferers and survivors and their performance of MRC e-Val as a system to related to the extensive cancer research that families, but also for us as cancer research collect this data, and extremely thankful for takes place on the site: from studying cancer scientists. We’re able to put our scientific the support given to the exercise by cells through microscopes to taking part in a interests in perspective and it was very humbling university support offices and MRC clinical trial ‘tombola’. and inspiring to speak to some of these people.” administrators across the UK. The response from the community has been very helpful, timely and carefully considered, and we are Southampton unit takes research findings to schools now focusing on examining the information in detail. On behalf of the evaluation team, I’d Students at three schools across Southampton The scientists were joined by Dr Lizzie like to thank everyone who accessed the have been learning how their teenage lifestyle Burns, a scientist-turned-artist, who system and entered their data.” choices can affect their health in later years, encouraged students to create an artwork The information provided through MRC e-Val and the health of any children they might have. based on what they’d learned. Students will enable the MRC to establish an evidence designed ‘healthy body’ t-shirts and built Scientists from the MRC Epidemiology base to strengthen how the MRC evaluates bodies out of modelling clay. Resource Centre (ERC) in Southampton visited progress with its strategy and communicates schools within the city to run workshops about Lizzie said: “The workshops drew inspiration research achievements. their research and what factors might affect from the findings of the ERC’s longitudinal The evaluation team will be presenting a the student’s lifelong health and that of their studies such as the Southampton Women’s preliminary analysis of data collected via MRC offspring. The ERC carries out epidemiological Survey (SWS), and every class we spoke to e-Val to the MRC’s Council in March, and will research, for example running long-term seemed to respond to the healthy lifestyle aim to publish results later this year. The cohort studies as resources to explore the messages, no matter what the age-group.” information provided will also be used in case developmental origins of health and disease, studies highlighting the impact of MRC the results of which inform health policy. research, and will feed into the MRC Annual Review for 2009/10. Any questions about MRC e-Val should be directed to: [email protected]. ac.uk

Children from Bevois Town Primary School, Southampton show off their healthy body t-shirts.

6 | MRCNetwork Gambia unit unveils new strategic direction

The MRC unit in The Gambia has outlined new strategy. It recognises that research across plans for the next five years, which will include the world is changing due to large investments focusing its science on three new themed areas: in science and innovation in developing Child Survival, Disease Control and Elimination, economies. New health research centres have and Vaccines. emerged in West Africa along with new funding bodies such as the Global Health Fund and the Recruitment of scientists to lead these three Gates Foundation. The Gambia unit’s strategy themed research areas is now underway, and and way of operating will ensure that it theme leaders are expected to be appointed continues to play to its strengths and provide in February. In December, the unit’s plan, a unique contribution to medical research in developed over the course of the last year, was the sub-region. reviewed and endorsed by the MRC’s Strategy Board and Council. Implementation of the plan will change how and where the MRC spreads its investments Professor Tumani Corrah, Director of the and activities across the West African sub- unit, explains: “These themes have been region in the coming years. It is expected that selected to build upon our existing strengths, the same level of investment in global health to target national health needs and to reinforce research will be retained, but future organisation sub-regional and international collaboration. of MRC The Gambia will be along the lines of an They will also address some of the current MRC centre. It will have a research platform (a priorities in the Millennium Global Health core set of well funded strategic resources, Development Goals.” capabilities and infrastructure) and a set of The plan has been put together within the independently-led science programmes which broader context of the MRC’s global health will largely be externally funded.

MRC (UK) The Gambia research themes 2010–2015 Child Survival: Deaths in the first six months of life remain a major problem throughout the developing world. Research into how these early deaths can be prevented is urgently needed. Working closely with the Gambian Ministry of Health, MRC The Gambia will work to improve the diagnosis of severe infections in early childhood. Community-based research will look at how to reduce risk factors and improve the health of mothers and their babies. Disease Control and Elimination: Working with sub-regional partners, MRC The Gambia will conduct research into the feasibility of wiping out malaria, trachoma, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), tuberculosis and hepatitis B infections in The Gambia and West Africa. Vaccination: MRC The Gambia will expand its successful studies in vaccine immunology and in the interaction between the infant immune system, vaccines and infections. Future work within this theme will include basic research on the interactions of vaccines with the innate and adaptive immune systems; and trials of new vaccines, vaccine schedules, and routes of immunisation. scientists celebrate HiV trial success MRi pioneer awarded MRC African scientists, policy-makers and MRC staff Trustees of the Fleming Memorial Fund for Millennium Medal Medical Research have awarded a grant of gathered in London in December to celebrate Sir Peter Mansfield, who played an nearly £30,000 to the MRC Clinical Trials Unit to the success of the MRC’s Development of instrumental role in the development of help to implement the findings of DART. Antiretroviral Treatment in Africa (DART) trial. If magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), received the findings from DART are put into practice, a Dissemination activities will include workshops the MRC Millennium Medal in November. third more African HIV patients could gain and seminars, the development of a clinical This accolade recognises an MRC-funded access to antiretroviral therapy. manual of operations, display materials and scientist for outstanding research which has The event was timed to coincide with the production of different formats of the film of made a major contribution towards the formal publication of the DART results in The the trial. health and wealth of our society. Lancet, following their announcement at the The MRC film about DART can be seen at Sir Peter, along with Paul Lauterbur, harnessed International AIDS Society Conference in www.youtube.com/MRCcomms nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to visualise . summer 2009 DART is the biggest trial of HIV the internal structure of complex objects. therapy in Africa to date, involving 3,316 people In 1976 Sir Peter’s team produced the first with severe or advanced HIV who had not NMR image of living tissue by carrying out previously had ART. Findings showed that ART the technique on human fingers and MRI was can be delivered safely without routine born. Since then, MRI has developed rapidly laboratory monitoring for toxic effects, which and its continuing progress has been one of suggests that many more people with HIV in the most important breakthroughs in medical Africa could be treated for the same amount of science. Sir Peter and Dr Lauterbur’s money that is currently spent. achievements were later recognised with the Guests at the event saw a clip from the MRC 2003 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. film about the trial, followed by presentations Of his award, Sir Peter Mansfield, who is from Professor Janet Darbyshire, Director of the Emeritus Professor of Physics at the MRC Clinical Trials Unit; Professor Charles Gilks, University of Nottingham, said: “It was with UN AIDS Country Coordinator for HIV AIDS; great pride that my family and I learnt of this and Professor Chris Whitty of the Department immense honour which the MRC wishes to for International Development, which co- bestow on me.” funded the trial. Professor James Hakim of the University of Zimbabwe discussed the “Our achievements in designing and significance of the findings, and Mrs Angelina developing the MRI scanner gave us all a Wpakhabulo, the High Commissioner of sense of satisfaction in the knowledge that Uganda to Kenya, gave a lively talk about local we were able to help many sufferers of a community involvement. range of illnesses.” Previous winners of the MRC Millennium Medal include César Milstein, for his spotlight on scotland at MRC’s Open Council Meeting pioneering work on monoclonal antibodies and Tom Meade, who was awarded the Research in Scotland was at the heart of for clinical research fellowships. medal in 2002 for his contribution to UK discussions at MRC Open Council meeting on Sir Leszek stressed the importance of working health, particularly in the treatment and 15 December, hosted in Edinburgh. in partnership with universities and devolved prevention of cardiovascular disease. In 2008/09 the MRC invested more than £65 administrations to tackle future health A film and exhibition about the MRC and million to support medical and health research challenges, particularly those related to the MRI, made to commemorate the Millennium in Scotland and committed a further £28m to ageing UK population: ‘‘Population demo- Medal, will be touring science festivals across create a new Centre for Virus Research in graphics show that the one-to-one worker to the UK in 2010. Turn to page 18 to read more Glasgow. The economic, social and scientific elderly population ratio that will exist in Japan about Sir Peter’s pioneering work on MRI. benefits created by this investment were the in the 2020s will soon become a reality for the focus of much of the discussion throughout UK too. It is essential that we deliver on our the Council’s visit. investment in ageing research and in health Sir Leszek Borysiewicz and MRC Chairman throughout the life course.’’ Sir John Chisholm led the meeting with an audience of Members of the Scottish When asked about the future of medical Parliament, journalists, university academics, research in the current economic climate, and research staff from MRC units and centres. Sir Leszek reaffirmed that the MRC and the research community was in a position of Many seized the opportunity to put questions strength: ‘‘From the MRC’s point of view, now directly to Sir Leszek and other Council is a time of unprecedented opportunity for members. Topics ranged from current and bioscience research,” he said. future funding models, methods of participation with industry, the MRC’s new information Read the Q&A summary from the meeting at evaluation system, MRC e-Val, and MRC support www.mrc.ac.uk/opencouncil

8 | MRCNetwork Science, sense and the media Five MRC-funded researchers took part in Diary a Science in the Media workshop in November run by the charity Sense About Science, whose aim is to equip people with a better understanding of science and Brighton Science Festival evidence. Incredible Science is the theme of the Brighton The Edinburgh event attracted fifty Science Festival, which runs between 13 and 28 early-career researchers from all disciplines, February. The fortnight kicks off with two Family who came together to discuss how much Fun Days, with hands-on experiments, games, sense the media has about science, and demonstrations and talks, including Jet-pack whether any lack of sense should be blamed Man, Ugly Bugs, Marble Runs, a Dalek, creative on scientists or the media itself. Speakers thinking, bridge building, Twig Whistles and included journalists who cover science in the more. The MRC will be running a stand with press; scientists, including the MRC’s activities about the human brain at a White Heat Professor Richard Sharpe; university press event on 14 February. Big Science Weekend officers; and Sense About Science rounds off the fortnight on the 27 and 28 representatives. February with talks from top communicators and PhD student Emily Pritchard of the MRC TV stars. See www.BrightonScience.com Human Genetics Unit was one of the for more information. MRC-funded researchers at the workshop. She said: “As discussions began, our prejudices and cynicism about the media’s Exploring the diversity of science Science week celebrates portrayal of science surfaced; we all thought planet earth that the press were guilty of sensationalism, This year’s University of Cambridge Festival of fear-mongering and intentional mis­ Science is themed Diverse Science and takes Planet earth and its wildlife, people and its representation, often creating meaningless place between 8 and 21 March 2010. Several place in the universe is the theme of this controversy and debate. And although the Cambridge-based MRC scientists will be taking year’s National Science and Engineering Week scientists who spoke all detailed both part on 13 March, with the MRC Epidemiology (NSEW), which takes place between 12 and negative and positive dealings with the press, Unit running an activity called The Game of Life 21 March. The ten-day programme of science, it was the negative run-ins that got the most and the MRC Collaborative Centre for Human engineering and technology events and activities attention and were more entertaining.” Nutrition Research running an event called happens across the UK and is aimed at people Clever Chemistry – Mighty Minerals. Meanwhile of all ages. More information is available at With tongue firmly in cheek, a BBC Scotland the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit will engage www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/ science correspondent even suggested that all ages with mitochondrion paint-by-numbers nsew scientists on television “should always wear a and the MRC Centre for Nutritional lab-coat, gloves and safety specs, and have Epidemiology in Cancer Prevention and Survival minions pipetting coloured liquids behind will challenge visitors to take part in The Great them – even astrophysicists!” Gut Race. See www.cambridgescience.org Emily added: “The British media put science for more information. out to a wide audience, often making complex ideas accessible and interesting to all, including children. The science journalists who spoke were obviously enthusiastic about getting science into their publications and programmes, and being as accurate as they could be. But they face obstacles such as ruthless editors and the apathy of the public towards anything they don’t deem exciting.” She concluded: “There was wide agreement that science coverage in the media is important to highlight the relevance of science to our lives and to show how taxes and charity donations are spent.”

MRCNetwork | 9 opinion

Pharma is changing, and it will create more chances for academics to get involved with medical research in an industrial setting. MRC scientists can’t afford to ignore these opportunities, argues Patrick Vallance, Head of Drug Discovery at GlaxoSmithKline. Open invitation to innovation

Biomedical research has the potential to generate new knowledge and products that improve people’s health. This capacity to change lives for the better is a huge motivation for scientists but the route from discovery to clinical application is far from straightforward, and it is a pathway increasingly dependent on collaboration. At GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), we have made a significant shift in the way we operate in recent years. Along with the rest of the pharmaceutical industry, we’ve seen diminishing returns from the incredibly successful drug discovery model of the late twentieth century. We identified some years ago that pharma needed a new model, and the vision we have been working towards is one that frees up interactions between people, organisations and sectors to allow genuinely open dialogue about emerging innovation. To make it work, we need scientists from all sectors to be open to opportunities to work with us: sometimes in formal partnerships, but also just taking advantage of opportunities to share advice or experiences – all with a view to developing new medicines more effectively and more efficiently. The classic perception of a pharma company was a closed entity, monolithic, with in-house R&D and centralised management systems. Up until the end of the last century, this was usually true but, crucially, it was usually successful, too. ‘Big pharma’ produced between 25 and 50 new drugs every year in the 1990s. The classic perception of a “ pharma company was a closed entity, monolithic, with in-house R&D and centralised management systems. But the first ten years of the 21st Century ”have seen a marked reduction. Now we are seeing around 10 to 12 new medi­­cines a year, taking much longer to bring to regulatory submission, and the cost of R&D continues to climb. In this business, as in any other, you can’t rely on past successes to sustain you. If the old way of working has stopped Patrick Vallance, Head of Drug Discovery at GlaxoSmithKline functioning – for whatever reason – it’s time to change the model.

10 | MRCNetwork So how will discovery translate into invention in the new, relationships. At the moment, scientists in the pharma evolving pharma industry? At GSK we have dismantled industry don’t necessarily know where the expertise lies in the monolithic model of the 1990s. Control is being academic research. Likewise, researchers in academia often decentralised, we have diverse small groups working in lack the contacts and know-how to approach companies focused key areas, using cutting-edge platforms. We with a business proposition. expect more early drug discovery to take place outside the company, and we’re entering into more collaborations – We need match-makers, and the MRC and MRC Technology not just to share the risks (and rewards) of drug develop­ are both exploring ways to take on that role. Regular ment, but to enable the best combinations of skills, showcases act as a forum to facilitate the exchange of experience and insight to deliver the best possible ideas between MRC-funded researchers and pharma, and opportunities for genuine innovation. there are various MRC funding schemes available that support industrial experience and interaction – from PhD Instead of concentrating on studentships that involve working with a pharma company “ finding the next ‘blockbuster’ to large grants for translational research collaborations. drug to fund future research, GSK supports schemes that promote engagement between academia and industry, and we would like to see them we are building more diversity expand further. But this will require MRC-funded scientists into the projects we pursue. and others to take full advantage of these opportunities. Instead of concentrating on finding the next ‘blockbuster’” I would urge MRC scientists to do so because it’s not drug to fund future research, we are building more diversity just pharma that’s changing. The UK has an exceptional into the projects we pursue. So in addition to the basic biomedical science base, and its clinical science is numerous engines for discovery that GSK has internally, we world-class. We must focus more on finding reliable routes have developed a similar number of external relationships for translating this research into new clinical tools and and alliances globally. These can drive scientific progress in practices. We have to make sure that what is discovered at different ways but all have the potential to feed the the bench doesn’t languish in the literature but is harnessed pipeline of drug development. and used to create better ways of treating patients. There will be a more flexible approach to partnerships, That’s the vision that motivates us at GSK to develop new narrowing the gap between industrial and academic medicines. It’s the vision that I’m sure can appeal to MRC research. researchers. Now we have to combine our expertise and These alliances don’t just happen, of course. They need work more closely together to deliver better healthcare to be nurtured, and even before that, there needs to be for people around the world. Otherwise what is all that a mechanism for initiating and developing promising research for?

The MRC has a range of initiatives to promote closer links between academia and industry. MRC Showcases aim to raise awareness of MRC-supported research and opportunities for academic-industry collaborations, and also provide a framework for scientists to develop new partnerships. Two MRC Showcases are planned for 2010. The first will be themed around diabetes and obesity and will be held in early summer. Other opportunities include the MRC People Exchange Programme/Research Leader Fellowships and the MRC Industry Collaboration Award (MICA). For details of all these initiatives, see www.mrc.ac.uk/Ourresearch/Industry

MRCNetwork | 11 Funding

New support for DNA banking

The MRC has put £1 million renewed investment others remain healthy. The bank of samples is Professor Bill Ollier, who directs UDBN, said: into a national bank of human DNA samples and carefully collected, stored, and distributed to “UDBN has distributed over 80,000 DNA samples data which is helping to unravel the genetic scientists in accordance with ethical and for major genotyping studies, of which 16 were causes of diseases. regulatory guidelines, saving scientists time and for genome wide association (GWA) studies.” money. The UK DNA Banking Network (UDBN) manages “The unique aspect of UDBN is that it is collections of thousands of anonymised DNA The renewed MRC support will help UDBN to increasingly involved in sample aggregation. The samples and data for different common diseases further improve the quality of its samples, add network brings together, from numerous labs such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes and value to the DNA collections with genotype data and countries, smaller collections each in a aids research collaborations. Unlike UK Biobank held at the European Bioinformatics Institute, different format and of different quality, – which collects samples from patients directly and strengthen and develop links with other standardises these collections and then – UDBN is a secondary biobank which manages national DNA banks such as UK Biobank. It will despatches a large, uniform, high quality sample samples and data originating from scientists. also help scientists to discover new therapeutic set that can be used for large-scale GWA studies. and diagnostic agents in various MRC-funded The UDBN infrastructure can serve to manage By studying the samples, researchers can DNA collections for diseases including acute virtually any genetic epidemiology resource.” pinpoint the small genetic variations between leukaemia, age-related macular degeneration, people which cause some to become ill while asthma, eczema and unipolar depression.

PET brain imaging gets £1.6m boost

The MRC recently funded three grants to boost Sciences Centre will use their award of £400,000 neuroscience research using Positron Emission to team up with industry to model Tomography (PET). PET is a technique for mathematically how a PET biomarker tracks imaging the body which has the potential to activated microglia. Microglia are cells which are spot diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, long before involved in brain inflammation which become symptoms appear. activated in the stages of brain diseases and disorders. The biomarker will support diagnostic PET is used to image processes such as changes in brain activity or whether cancer cells have studies and drug development aimed at early spread from a tumour to other parts of the detection of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and body. The system detects gamma rays given out Parkinson’s. by a radioactive tracer (ligand) which is At Cambridge University’s Wolfson Brain Imaging introduced to the body on a biologically active Centre, Dr Franklin Aigbirhio’s group have been molecule, for example a neurotransmitter. Using awarded £600,000 to recruit and train a a computer, 3D images can then be made, based specialist scientist who will learn from on where the tracer has concentrated. The researchers in academia and industry. The grants were funded as a result of a call for pilot scientist will design new PET ligands to proposals to build the UK’s capability in this area. understand the biological mechanisms of brain Successful awardees have been asked to disorders such as depression, schizophrenia and establish a NeuroPET network so that UK drug addiction and help to identify new resources can be pooled for the common good. treatments. Professor Paul Matthews and colleagues at The funding is part of a wider MRC drive to Imperial College London have been awarded address issues raised by UK neuroscientists in the £600,000 to create the world’s first training PET imaging field. The MRC is working with the programme in advanced neuroPET National Cancer Research Initiative and the radiochemistry for tracer development. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory grant will equip two chemistry fellows with the Agency to facilitate better interaction between skill and experience to become UK leaders in this industry and academia, enhance communication area and also brings together several major UK between researchers and regulators and cut any centres for molecular imaging for the first time. unnecessary red tape. The goal is to do Also at Imperial College, a team led by Dr everything possible to make UK PET imaging Federico Turkheimer at the MRC Clinical research more internationally competitive.

12 | MRCNetwork Double honour for scientist in successful second career

A University of Aberdeen microbiologist, Alex Brand (53), a poster agency in Qatar who only entered the profession at the age of 40, has to announcing the sports been awarded an MRC New Investigator Grant. She has news for Voice of also recently been awarded a prestigious Royal Society Indonesia Radio in Jakarta. University Research Fellowship, bringing her total combined In 1995, she completed an awards to £894,326. Access course and began a The funds will allow Alex to set up her own research team new career in science, and equip a new laboratory to further her studies into the undertaking a bio­­chemistry fungus Candida albicans, which can cause fatal infections in degree at the University of people with weakened immune systems. Alex’s research is Aberdeen. She graduated investigating how the cell tips of this fungus navigate and with First Class Honours in steer around their environment in order to grow and thrive. 2000 and then completed a PhD in Microbiology She explains: “We don’t know what external signposts under the supervision of fungal tips follow but they could play an important role in Professor Neil Gow, graduating in 2004. tissue invasion. The research I’m doing is exciting because it will help us to understand the disease process and suggest On winning the two research awards, Alex commented: new targets for the treatment of C. albicans infections.” “I have always had my eye on the next step. By combining my previous experience with a keen enthusiasm for Alex originally left school with secretarial qualifications, science, I am proof that it is never too late to take on a few A levels and a wish to “do something exciting”. new career challenges.” Following a successful career in the advertising industry, she travelled the world with her oil industry husband, picking up diverse jobs along the way, ranging from running

OPPORTUNITIES

Fellowships Deadline date Panel meeting Career Development Award 29 January 2010 22 to 23 July 2010 Calls Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme 4 March 2010 10 to 11 May 2010 Board Molecular and Cellular Medicine 28 April 2010 6 to 7 October 2010 Infections and Immunity 27 January 2010 tbc 5 May 2010 tbc Population and Systems Medicine 3 February 2010 14 to 15 July 2010 12 May 2010 14 to 15 October 2010 Neurosciences and Mental Health 10 February 2010 21 to 22 July 2010 26 May 2010 3 to 4 November 2010

MRCNetwork | 13 Research ROUNDUP

Brain disease ‘resistance gene’ could offer insights into CJD

Strong genetic resistance to a fatal brain disease where kuru had been most rife, they discovered has emerged in a community in Papua New a unique mutation in the prion gene called Guinea, MRC research has shown. The disease, G127V, which protects against kuru. This gene kuru, is unique to the Okapa area in Papua New has become frequent in this area through natural Guinea, and like Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (CJD) selection, in direct response to the epidemic. it is caused by infectious prions. Kuru devastated Professor John Collinge, Director of the MRC the affected population in the 1950s. The Prion Unit, who led the research, said: “It’s infection was passed on at mortuary feasts, absolutely fascinating to see Darwinian principles where women and children consumed their at work here. Discovery of this powerful deceased relatives as a mark of respect. resistance factor against a truly terrible epidemic Scientists from the MRC Prion Unit in opens up new areas for research taking us closer collaboration with the Papua New Guinea to understanding, treating and hopefully Institute of Medical Research compared the preventing a range of prion diseases.” genes of over 3,000 people from the valley and New England Journal of Medicine 361; surrounding regions, including 709 people who 2056–2065 (2009) had participated in cannibalistic mortuary feasts, 152 of whom later died of kuru. In the area

Discovered: the gene which keeps females female

Scientists have discovered that ovary cells that it is fixed; and that it relies solely on the X become more like testis cells in adult mice if the and Y chromosome. These findings might gene Foxl2 is ‘turned off’. The landmark research eventually help to treat certain reproductive by the MRC and the European Molecular Biology conditions, such as the masculinising effects of Laboratory (EMBL) has revealed that Foxl2, which menopause seen in some women. Dr Robin is found on a non-sex chromosome, is solely Lovell Badge of the MRC National Institute for responsible for keeping the ovary as an ovary in Medical Research, who led the research, said: “If adults, acting by directly suppressing the it is possible to make these changes in adult male-promoting gene Sox9. The researchers humans it may eventually remove the need for created adult mice which lacked the gene Foxl2, surgery in gender reassignment treatment. If this and saw that this dramatically changed the cell does become possible, it’s likely that while types in the ovary. The cells began producing treated individuals would make the right testosterone and organised into structures hormones for their new sex, fertility would resembling those responsible for sperm be lost”. production. These findings challenge several Cell, 139(6); 1130–1142 (2009) long-held assumptions about sex determination: that female development happens by default;

14 | MRCNetwork Seeking out the cause of the cough

Research part-funded by the MRC has shown how tested the effect of inhaling cinnamaldehyde in ten environmental irritants like cigarette smoke trigger healthy, non-smoking volunteers and found that the coughing – and how this trigger can be switched off. chemical induced coughing in all of them. Professor Maria Scientists from Imperial College London and the University Belvisi, one of the study’s authors, said: “Many people say of Hull tested sensory nerves from rodents and humans. that certain things in the air can make them cough and we They showed that a type of receptor on the nerves, TRPA1, are very excited that we have shown, for the first time, was activated by environmental irritants including acrolein, what is probably happening inside the lungs. Now we can a key compound in cigarette smoke, and the chemical start investigating whether we can stop people from cinnamaldehyde. The scientists went on to show that coughing excessively by blocking the receptor that inhalation of acrolein in guinea pigs caused coughing, and triggers it.” that the coughing worsened at higher concentrations. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Blocking the guinea pigs’ TRPA1 receptors with a drug 180; 1042–1047 (2009) significantly reduced this coughing response. Professor Alyn Morice and his team at the University of Hull also

No benefit in treatment to unblock kidney arteries

Revascularisation – a treatment which opens up blocked benefit compared with medical therapy alone. Professor blood vessels – has no benefit for most patients suffering Jon Moss, the radiology lead for the trial, said: “Our results from the kidney condition atherosclerotic renal artery suggest that, in most patients with renal artery stenosis, stenosis, research part-funded by the MRC has found. In this procedure does not stabilise or improve kidney this disease, fatty plaques develop on the inside of the function or blood pressure, or reduce cardiovascular main arteries to the kidneys, affecting blood flow and disease or mortality, any more than medical therapy alone. kidney function. The international Angioplasty and Given the risk of serious complications, it should be used STenting for Renal Artery Lesions (ASTRAL) trial was the less.” The research was co-funded by Kidney Research UK largest to date of treatments for this condition. It was and Medtronic. coordinated by the University of Birmingham Clinical Trials New England Journal of Medicine 361; 1953–1962 (2009) Unit. The study investigated, in 806 patients, whether revascularisation treatment and medical therapy had any

MRCNetwork | 15 Home treatment of HIV patients could save more lives

A study of HIV patients in Jinja, south-west Uganda, has failure (failure of ART to keep HIV at bay) was seen in 16 shown that treatment of HIV patients at home is just as per cent of patients being treated at home compared with effective as clinic-based treatment. The study, funded by 17 per cent of those receiving facility-based care. The the MRC and the US Centers for Disease Control and home-based model was slightly cheaper to run and much Prevention, recruited 1,453 HIV patients at the same stage less costly for patients. Dr Shabbar Jaffar, corresponding of illness and followed them up over four years. Of these author, said: “Our study shows that community-based patients, 859 received antiretroviral therapy (ART) at home treatment with ART can provide greater access to HIV from trained lay workers while the other 594 received ART treatment for all those who need it, including patients in remote rural areas who have to travel long distances – at in a clinic from doctors and nurses. During the first year, considerable cost – to get to a clinic.” the proportion of patients who died was the same in both groups (11 per cent). At the end of the trial, virological The Lancet 351 (9112); 1341–1346

Anti-HIV vaginal gel proven ineffective

The largest international clinical trial to date into a vaginal between women who were supplied with PRO 2000 and microbicide gel, PRO 2000, has found no evidence that it those given placebo gel. The trial’s Chief Investigator, Dr reduces the risk of HIV infection in women. The MRC and Sheena McCormack of the MRC, said: “This result is UK Government-funded trial involved 9,385 women at six disheartening; nevertheless we know this is an important research centres in four African countries and was carried result and it shows clearly the need to undertake trials out between 2005 and 2009. Because condom promotion which are large enough to provide definitive evidence for alone is not effective in controlling the epidemic, the whether or not a product works. These results show researchers set out to discover whether use of the gel by conclusively that PRO 2000 is of no added benefit, ending women before sexual intercourse could reduce HIV speculation by scientists about its clinical importance and infection. Participants received the gel with free condoms allowing us to concentrate on other treatments that might work.” and counselling for safer sex negotiation and sexual health throughout the trial. The findings showed that there was Results announced at www.mdp.mrc.ac.uk/archive no significant difference in risk of getting infected with HIV ahead of publication.

16 | MRCNetwork Unusual case of variant CJD Nuclear protein could hold key to cancer progression Scientists at the MRC Prion Unit have reported MRC research has discovered that a protein cells, the findings suggest that there could an unusual case of variant Creutzfeldt Jakob called germinal center-associated nuclear be a previously unrecognized connection Disease (vCJD) in which the affected protein (GANP) could be involved in the between mRNA export and cancer individual had a different variation in the gene development of cancers of the immune progression. Commenting on the findings, coding for prion protein to that which is system such as lymphomas. Dr Vihandha Dr Wickramasinghe said: “Working out how normally seen in vCJD cases. The finding Wickramasinghe and his team at the MRC the GANP protein functions in mammals is comes from a Case Report written by Cancer Cell Unit in Cambridge found that in an important step in identifying its potential Professor John Collinge of the MRC Prion Unit. healthy cells, GANP is essential for acting as role in cancer. Our results suggest that this The report concerns a 30-year-old man who a courier for molecules of messenger RNA process, mRNA export, may be involved in died in January 2009 from vCJD. The MRC (mRNA), carrying them away from the cancer development and progression. team discovered that the patient had a small nucleus of a cell to where they can be We hope that this work will lead to further genetic variation at the PRNP 129 codon, converted into working proteins. By removing insights into this disease and ultimately which can code for the amino acids valine (V) GANP, this process, known as mRNA export, contribute to the creation of new cancer or methionine (M). People can be VV or MM becomes severely disrupted and results in therapies.” (homozygous), or MV (heterozygous). All 200 a build-up of mRNA within the nucleus, cases of vCJD identified since 1994 have been disrupting the production of proteins which Current Biology, 10 December 2009, MM homozygous – however the man in this carry out specific functions in the cell. As published online ahead of print at Case Report was heterozygous. Professor there are increased GANP levels in lymphoma www.cell.com/current-biology Collinge said: “The majority of the UK population have potentially been exposed to BSE prions but the extent of clinically silent infection remains unclear. About a third of the UK population are PRNP codon 129 methionine homozygous. If individuals with other genotypes are similarly susceptible to developing prion disease after BSE prion exposure, but with longer incubation periods, further cases, which may or may not meet diagnostic criteria for vCJD, would be expected in these PRNP codon 129 genotypes.” The Lancet 374 (9707) 2128

MRCNetwork | 17 Sir Peter Mansfield was awarded the MRC’s Millennium Medal in November for the instrumental role he played in developing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a remarkable imaging technique that allows us to see inside the body. Network charts Sir Peter’s pioneering work. Getting under your skin

It’s hard to measure the enormous contribution that MRI Sir Peter explains: “The MRC was holding a review to decide has made to medicine. The technique allows scientists to which of the UK’s NMR research groups to support. The peer under the skin and see the body’s structures in vivid amount of money that was being sought at the time was detail – aiding our understanding of how the body works, really large and they didn’t feel they could fund all the NMR and helping us to diagnose and treat disease. One groups vying for funding, so they had to make a choice. We application of the technique called functional MRI (fMRI) took the images to one of the meetings and realised that even allows scientists to see people thinking. we had produced the very first NMR images of human living tissue.” MRI takes advantage of the magnetic properties of hydrogen atoms in the water inside our bodies. It’s based Seeing the potential of this work, the MRC granted Sir Peter on the principles of an earlier method for studying and his team funding to develop his research further. This molecular structures called Nuclear Magnetic Resonance funding has subsequently underpinned not only the (NMR). A strong magnetic field is applied to an object, development of MRI but also its many clinical applications making the hydrogen atoms in it align in the same – from detection of cancer to measuring brain activity. orientation like the needle on a compass. A short blast of energy in the form of a finely tuned radiowave is applied to Most notably, Sir Peter invented an extremely fast scanning knock the hydrogen atoms out of their position. As the MRI technique, known as echo-planar imaging (EPI), which hydrogen atoms bounce back into alignment with the led to the development of the most sophisticated MRI magnet they emit a signal which can be picked up and applications in clinical use today. EPI is the key to fMRI, converted into an image. which is used to study dynamic processes in living tissues. In particular, it can be used to visualise blood flow in the Sir Peter’s role in taking NMR in a new direction by using brain, which in turn allows doctors to study brain activity it to image living tissue came in the early 1970s. Sir during development, following injury and in brain disorders. Peter, a physicist at the University of Nottingham, Before EPI, fMRI was slow and hard to use clinically. EPI had been carrying out NMR experiments on sped up image acquisition and therefore was the precursor solids, but his eureka moment came when he to all modern fMRI applications. hit on the idea of applying the technique to visualising the structure of objects rather We realised that we had than their chemical composition. “produced the very first NMR “At first we looked at plants, and twigs from trees – but then I thought I would images of human living tissue. try putting my finger in the magnetic Today, fMRI is also used to investigate how the brain’s ” coil to see if we could image that. neural networks develop during infancy, and to look for Unfortunately my fingers were too subtle abnormalities in brain activity in patients with big, but one of my students, Andrew disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Maudsley, had very thin fingers and schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. was able to get all of them, one at a time, inside the magnetic coil,” says Sir Peter’s work was eventually recognised with the 2003 Sir Peter. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, jointly awarded to a US chemist, Dr Paul Lauterbur, who had also made a In 1975, the research team managed to major contribution to developing the technique. produce a set of realistic images of Andrew’s fingers, complete with bone, Sir Peter says: “Winning the Nobel Prize was a tremendous bone marrow, nerves and arteries – and boost, not only to Paul and myself, but to the whole topic MRI was born. They photographed the of magnetic resonance. Because it put things on the map, images, and took them to a meeting at and recognised the work of people who were intimately MRC Head Office which was reviewing the involved in the further developments of MRI but it also status of NMR imaging. recognised that there were still huge areas of work to be

18 | MRCNetwork Sir Peter with his Millennium Medal

Sir Peter and Professor Paul Matthews at the Millennium Medal Award Ceremony

done, and that there were new aspects of imaging the small molecules present inside cells. These molecules are brain and functional imaging generally. My feeling is that present at 10,000-fold lower concentrations than the there are likely to be more Nobel Prizes in this area.” water in the body that we use to create a conventional MRI image. If we can detect these molecules we can Today, the boundaries for applications of MRI continue to detect treatment response much earlier. So we’re using a be pushed. Where does Sir Peter see the field going next? technique which increases the sensitivity of the MRI “One of the really interesting parts of all this is whether it experiment by more than 10,000-fold so now we can can be applied to people with psychological or psychiatric actually look at these small molecules inside cells.” disorders. That is where the future of brain scanning lies and I’m pleased to say that we in this department are making very considerable progress towards that aim,” he says. The whole notion of what an MRI scan is going to be in the Novel ways of using MRI could soon emerge. Professor “ Paul Matthews, Vice President of Imaging at future will change. GlaxoSmithKline, says: “The whole notion of what an MRI ” scan is going to be in the future will change. We may not The wide-ranging potential of MRI means that the story of need to put coils on top of people’s bodies, we may just this remarkable technique is only just beginning. slide into a tube with travelling wave MRI. Or even swallow To mark the award of this Millennium Medal, the MRC has nano-magnets and report on what’s happening in the cells in produced a film about MRI and Sir Peter Mansfield’s work our body that way.” which can be seen at www.youtube.com/MRCcomms, Other scientists are using MRI not only to diagnose cancer, or you can order a copy of the DVD by emailing but to assess peoples’ responses to tumour therapy at the [email protected]. An accompanying molecular level. Professor Kevin Brindle, of the University of exhibition on MRI will be touring science festivals Cambridge, explains: “Our group is using MRI to look at throughout the UK during 2010.

MRCNetwork | 19 MRC PEOPLE

Awards for Edinburgh custom-made tissues from patients’ own cells Sir Leszek Borysiewicz said: “Janet has made a stem cell scientists that can be used to repair damaged or diseased remarkable contribution establishing the MRC as organs. Kei commented: “The reprogramming a world leader in International Clinical Trials, as research area is very competitive and I am proud well as pioneering the close interaction the MRC that although my lab is small, we have been able enjoys with the National Institute of Health to make a contribution to improve the Research in leading evaluation of clinical technology.” interventions that need to be implemented by the NHS for the benefit of all patients. The award of a CBE to Janet in the New Year Honours New director for MRC Clinical underlines the huge contribution she has made.” Trials Unit Professor Mahesh Edinburgh ‘unsung hero’ bags Royal (Max) Parmar has been Society award Dr Kei Kaji and Professor Sir Ian Wilmut with their appointed as the new Nexxus Awards director of the MRC Dr Sharon Hannah, a Senior Laboratory Prestigious Nexxus Awards went to two scientists Clinical Trials Unit. Max Manager at the MRC/University of Edinburgh from Edinburgh’s MRC Centre for Regenerative will take up the post on Centre for Inflammation Research has been 1 March 2010, following awarded a Royal Society Hauksbee Award for her Medicine in November in recognition of their Professor Max Parmar groundbreaking stem cell research. the retirement of current contributions as an ‘unsung hero’ in supporting Director Professor Janet Darbyshire after science. Professor Sir Ian Wilmut, creator of Dolly 12 years at the helm. the sheep, and the Centre’s Director, won the The awards, named after Isaac Newton’s 2009 Nexxus Annual Lifetime Achievement Max is an applied statistician, and is currently laboratory assistant at the Royal Society, recognise Award (East). His colleague, Dr Kei Kaji, won Professor of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology and reward people who have excelled in roles the 2009 Nexxus Annual Young Life Scientist of at University College London. He joined the MRC which support science such as laboratory the Year Award (East) for his work on in 1987 and has been Head of the unit’s Cancer assistant or teacher, and who have contributed reprogramming adult cells into stem cells. Group since 1998. His work has since extended to the UK science base. Award winners are beyond cancer; he is working on a large-scale nominated by their employers or senior Sir Ian’s award is in recognition of the significant trial of the drug naloxone to prevent overdose colleagues. contributions he has made to raising the deaths soon after release from prison, and is also Sharon will receive a £500 prize, along with a reputation of central Scotland as a centre of involved with a trial of stem cell therapy to treat Royal Society engraved bronze medal and scroll excellence for life sciences. He has worked in the cardiovascular disease. He is also Associate at an awards ceremony on 10 March. field for over 36 years, 32 of those at the Roslin Director of the National Cancer Research Network. Institute where he led the team that developed the capabilities to create Dolly the sheep – the Of his appointment, Max said: “My aim will be first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell. to build on the excellent work in the unit to Top German This 1996 achievement resulted in immediate improve outcomes as rapidly as possible in a research award for and long-lasting international renown for Sir number of major diseases through our research. NIMR scientist Ian’s work and for Scottish life sciences. We will also increase our focus on developing new methods to improve the design, conduct The outstanding research Sir Ian said it was an honour to win, and and analysis of research studies”. record of Dr Troy acknowledged the essential contribution of his Margrie of the MRC Outgoing director Janet Darbyshire has led the National Institute for team, on whose behalf he accepted the award. Dr Troy Margrie He added: “I’m delighted that the award unit since 1998, and has been involved with Medical Research (NIMR) recognises the importance of basic research. coordinating many clinical trials including those has singled him out for a Friedrich Wilhelm Advances in basic research are essential for the in tuberculosis and HIV infection. Janet is Bessel Research Award. a member of many Trial Steering and Data future development of life sciences in Scotland. Up to 25 awards are granted each year by the We can look forward to new opportunities Monitoring Committees and Advisory Panels and has worked closely with patient and carer Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, in arising from the Dolly experiment playing an Germany. They are awarded to scientists and important part in Scottish companies.” groups, particularly in HIV infection and cancer. Since 2005 she has been Joint Director, with scholars of international renown who are Kei’s award-winning breakthrough came earlier Professor Peter Selby, of the NIHR Clinical expected to continue producing cutting-edge this year when he managed to reprogramme Research Network – a role she will maintain after achievements. As part of the award, next year adult cells to become pluripotent, or able to her retirement from CTU. Plans for Janet’s Troy will collaborate on a long-term research grow into any type of cell. This work represented retirement celebrations will be announced shortly. project with Peter Seeburg and Winifred Denk a significant advance towards generating at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg.

20 | MRCNetwork Troy is acting head of NIMR’s Division of Change of New Years Honours Neurophysiology. He and his colleagues carry leadership at MRC for MRC scientists out research into how the brain uses the signals Cancer Cell Unit gathered from individual and groups of brain The New Year Honours cells to make sense of sensory stimuli. MRC Cancer Cell Unit list 2010 has recognised Director Professor Ron MRC scientists Professor He said: “It is, of course, an honour to receive Laskey will step down at Janet Darbyshire and such an accolade and I very much look forward Professor Carol the end of January after Professor Carol Dezateux to strengthening collaborative ties with our Dezateux with CBEs Professor Ron Laskey leading the unit for a German colleagues.” decade. Professor and Professor Val Beral with a DBE. Ashok Venkitaraman, with whom Ron has Janet, Director of the MRC Clinical Trials Unit, LMB scientist follows in Crick’s joint-directed the Unit for a number of years, was awarded a CBE for services to clinical will become the Unit’s sole Director. footsteps sciences. She has led the unit for over a decade Ron first worked at the MRC as a post doctoral and has played a leading role in coordinating MRC synthetic biologist Dr Jason Chin was researcher at the Laboratory of Molecular many clinical trials, particularly in HIV infection. selected to deliver the Royal Society’s annual Biology, where he discovered the signals that Since 2005 she has also been Joint Director of Francis Crick Lecture in November. direct proteins to the cell nucleus, and invented the NIHR (previously the UKCRN) Clinical Established in 2003, the prize lecture is aimed at sensitive methods for detecting radioisotopes. Research Network with the remit to develop a younger scientists and gives preference to those He went on to set up the MRC Cancer Cell Unit world class infrastructure for clinical research in who work in similar scientific areas to Crick many years later, in 1999, after a period as the NHS. himself, namely genetics, molecular biology and Director of the former Wellcome/CRC Institute She said: I am delighted that my work, which neurobiology. Jason, of the MRC Laboratory of at the University of Cambridge (now the Wellcome depends on the work of many people in the MRC Molecular Biology, outlined how he and his team Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute). Clinical Trials Unit and our collaborators across are building a whole new system for reading the Much of his career has been dedicated to the world, has been recognised in this way.” DNA in the genome to make proteins and other understanding how cells control DNA synthesis. polymers. A CBE for services to science was awarded to He has developed cell-free systems that allow Carol, who directs the MRC Centre of To date, genetic engineers have faced the these processes to be studied in a test tube, in Epidemiology for Child Health and is an MRC challenge of how to add new amino acids to the extracts from human cells. Some of the proteins Strategy Board member and Chair of the MRC’s genetic code while leaving intact the genetic studied in this work are emerging as promising Training and Careers Group. code which is essential for the organism’s markers for the development of screening tests survival. To get around this problem, Jason’s for the commonest cancers. Carol commented: “I am honoured and team is writing a parallel genetic code for delighted to receive this award and the Ron has garnered many accolades over his polymer synthesis. Their work is already helping recognition it gives to our scientific research for career. He is the Charles Darwin Professor scientists to better understand biological children and their parents. This has been made of Animal Embryology at the University of processes with molecular precision and create possible by our MRC Centre as well as by the Cambridge; Vice President of the Academy of next-generation protein therapeutics. many colleagues who have inspired and Medical Sciences; and a Fellow of the Royal supported me over the years.” Jason said: “We are expanding the paradigm Crick Society, which awarded him the Royal Medal described, such that the heritable information in in 2009. Carol is Professor of Paediatric Epidemiology and DNA is used to encode not just proteins, but an honorary consultant paediatrician at the Following his retirement as Director, Ron plans proteins containing new unnatural amino acids Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust where to continue his research at the MRC Cancer Cell and ultimately completely unnatural polymers. she co-directs the UK Newborn Screening Unit for another year. Programme Centre. She is also Head of the Such polymers would be encoded in the cell’s Sir Leszek Borysiewicz said: “Ron has led the MRC Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and genome and would allow us to watch a new Cancer Cell Unit with great distinction and we Biostatistics and Population Health Sciences at form of life boot–up. We can then ask whether were delighted by his decision to continue his University College London Institute of Child biology with additional genetically encoded research on retiring from the Directorship. Not Health. polymers can evolve to access functions that only has he made personal contributions that natural biology cannot.” MRC grantholder Val, who becomes a Dame, is have attracted widespread international acclaim Director of the Cancer Epidemiology Unit in The BBSRC has an initiative to explore the ethical but he has established the Unit as a premier Oxford. She has carried out epidemiological implications of synthetic biology research. international research centre. It has attracted research over the past 30 years which has led to the best investigators from around the world to the discoveries of some causes of cancers and address some of the long-term and difficult clarified the role of hormonal factors in breast problems in improving our understanding the cancer. Her work suggested that cervical cancer causes, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.” and Kaposi’s sarcoma were infectious diseases before the relevant viruses were identified. In 1997 she initiated the Million Women’s Study, which has since recruited more than 1.3 million women through the NHS Breast Cancer Screening Programme. Val has also served on the MRC’s research boards.

MRCNetwork | 21 Dr Michael Russell OBITUARIES 1932–2009 Psychiatrist Michael Russell Professor Jeremy Professor revolutionised our understanding of the pharmacology of smoking, making the (Jerry) Morris Humphrey Kay 1923–2009 connection between nicotine and the 1910–2009 motivating force underlying smoking An award-winning Haematologist, behaviour. He died in July, aged 77. pathologist and MRC epidemiologist, Michael was born in Cape Town, South oncologist Professor Professor Jerry Morris Africa. He studied medicine at Oxford Humphrey Kay died in discovered the link University and did his clinical training at Guy’s October, aged 86. He was best known for between exercise and Hospital in London. He decided to specialise in pioneering a scientific approach to the a healthy heart. He died in October at psychiatry while working as a junior doctor at diagnosis and treatment of leukaemia, the age of 99. Groote Schuur hospital, back in Cape Town. and was involved in running MRC clinical It was during his doctorate at Maudsley Jerry qualified as a doctor in 1934 and served in trials in the 1960s. the Royal Army Medical Corps in India during Hospital in south London that he linked World War II, later becoming Director of the Humphrey was born in Croydon, Surrey and nicotine with smoking behaviour. The study newly-established MRC Social Medicine Research studied medicine at St Thomas’ Hospital, of the interacting pharmacological and Unit in 1948. He led the unit for 27 years until his qualifying in 1945. After a stint in the RAF psychological determinants of tobacco retirement (and the unit’s closure) in 1975. Volunteer Reserve during the war, he became dependence became his life’s work. a lecturer in Pathology at St Thomas’ Medical Michael made immense contributions, often While today it is common knowledge that School and was later appointed consultant unrecognised at the time, but which now form exercise is good for the heart, before 1945 the clinical pathologist at the Royal Marsden the basis of much of tobacco control policy. link had not been made. Intrigued by the Hospital, London. He became Professor of His research led to the 1988 report of the US post-war increase in heart disease, Jerry looked Haematology in 1982 and Professor Emeritus Surgeon General, Nicotine Addiction, which at the medical records of people with various in 1984. occupations. He found that those with less finally brought recognition that cigarette active jobs had a higher risk of suffering heart Humphrey and his team pioneered a new smoking is a classic drug dependence. approach to the treatment of leukaemia in 1963, problems. For example, bus drivers, who sat He is regarded as the father of effective designing a new ward at the Royal Marsden for down all day, were more likely to have heart treatments to help smokers quit. He took an the protective isolation of bone marrow attacks than bus conductors, who walked up and early interest in nicotine chewing gum and the depleted or immuno-suppressed patients. down stairs, despite both groups coming from use of advice from GPs on smoking cessation. Humphrey was in administrative charge of the similar social backgrounds. His vision of a service combing advice and ward, developing the treatment procedures and pharmacological therapy in primary care is now He published a series of research papers, assessing its benefits and cost. This led to the being realised by the NHS. including landmark papers in The Lancet in 1953 construction of an improved ward equipped for and the British Medical Journal in 1958, which the intensive treatment of acute leukaemia, to From 1978, Michael received continuous grant showed conclusively that physical activity is a facilitate the transplantation of bone marrow. support from the MRC which enabled him to crucial factor in reducing the risk of heart disease. The first successful bone marrow transplant was build a research team, most of whom remain in Jerry was determined to help tackle inequalities performed there in 1973. the field. He was appointed Professor of Addiction in 1986, and his work at the Maudsley in health, after the poverty he experienced while In 1968, Humphrey was appointed secretary to continued until 1998. growing up in Glasgow. He worked with the the MRC’s leukaemia trials committee. The Government in the 1960s to develop the role of MRC’s childhood leukaemia trials are widely the community physician as a key element in the regarded as a medical and organisational Professor NHS. He also served on the expert Working success, which have led to dramatic Walter Muir Group chaired by Sir Douglas Black that led to improvements in survival: today, four out of five 1958–2009 the influential 1980 Black Report into health children recover from the disease, compared September saw the inequality in Britain. with just one in five 25 years ago. Humphrey untimely death of organised the collaboration of US, British and In 1996, Jerry and a US colleague, Dr Ralph Professor Walter Muir, French leukaemia specialists in the research into S Paffenbarger Jr, won the first IOC Olympic at the age of 51. and the treatment of the disease, which led to Prize in sport science for demonstrating the Walter was an outstanding MRC Clinical the first international protocols for leukaemia relationship between physical activity and the Scientist who devoted his career to treatment. prevention of coronary heart disease. helping people with mental illness and Always rigorous in adopting advice supported After he retired Humphrey began a second trying to understand the underlying by scientific evidence, Jerry continued to jog, career as a naturalist, specialising in entomology causes of the disorders he encountered swim and cycle well into his nineties. He was and taking an interest in conservation issues. He in his clinical practice. was also a keen writer, authoring or co-authoring still regularly working at the London School of Walter trained as a doctor in Edinburgh, and more than 120 scientific papers, several book Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the final after completing a degree in pharmacology, he chapters and a volume of humorous poetry. weeks of his life. joined the Royal Edinburgh Hospital rotational He is survived by his two children, two Humphrey is survived by his wife Sally, a son, two training scheme in psychiatry in 1983. He quickly grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. daughters, a stepson and a stepdaughter. became involved in DNA studies in families, and

22 | MRCNetwork his appreciation of the devastating effects of approach to both work and life. Totally reliable YOUR mental illnesses gained him the support and and helpful to everyone, he was well liked and cooperation of patients and their families who respected by all he met. He was a natural teacher FEEDBACK volunteered to take part in genetic studies. and lecturer and supervised many junior staff and students over his 30 years with the MRC. His Network is for anyone who has an interest Walter worked with the late Professor John Evans Health and Safety lectures were legendary. His in the work of the MRC, including scientists, at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, where he was dry sense of humour and visual aids made for an doctors and health professionals involved in awarded a prestigious MRC Clinical Scientist informative and entertaining experience.” medical research, government departments Fellowship, which allowed him to combine and parliamentarians, and university staff clinical work with laboratory training in DNA Gordon had many interests which he pursued and students. The aim is to provide a quick, analysis and chromosome analysis. From a large with enthusiasm. He was an Elder at St. Davids easy-to-read summary of activities across the database of chromosomal abnormalities Church in Knightswood, Glasgow, for over 30 MRC, from research news through to funding, previously established in the MRC unit, he years and Head of Company Section with The grant schemes and policy issues, with pointers to more in-depth information on websites and identified several key families with psychiatric Boys’ Brigade. A Walt Disney enthusiast and a in other publications. illness where chromosomal abnormalities were keen cameraman, he made both movies and the most likely cause. DVDs and shared these pursuits with his son. His We are very keen to receive feedback on charity work included fundraising lectures for Network and suggestions for new features His work underpinned the discovery of several The Leprosy Mission. from our readers. So if you have any genes involved in schizophrenia and bipolar comments, please let us know. Just email: disorder including DISC1, one of the most He is survived by his wife Hilda, son Graeme and [email protected] important genes for neuropsychiatric disorders his mother, Helen. identified to date. Network is produced by the MRC publications team and is available in print and in Walter’s death, following an accident, came only Dr Jehoiada John Brown downloadable pdf format at: a few months after he was awarded DSc and 1927–2009 appointed to a personal chair in developmental www.mrc.ac.uk Dr Jehoiada (Joyda) John Brown was a psychiatry in Edinburgh University. well-known and highly respected physician and clinical scientist who IMAGES Dr Gordon Inglis co-established the MRC Blood Pressure 1954–2009 Unit in Glasgow. He died in April 2009. Cover: © Sovereign, ISM / Science Photo Library Page 3: © Wellcome Images A respected Senior Born in Croescyceiliog, South Wales, Joyda Page 4: © Noel Murphy Page 5: © Jean-Claude Revy, ISM / Science Photo Library Researcher at the attended West Monmouthshire Grammar School, where he excelled at his studies. He Page 7: © Felicia Webb MRC Blood Pressure Page 9: © iStockphoto Group in Glasgow, trained as a doctor at St Mary’s Hospital Medical Page 11: © iStockphoto Dr Gordon Inglis School, London, qualifying in 1952. Page 12: © Centre Jean Perrin, Ism / Science Photo Library Page 13: © Dr Linda Stannard, Uct / Science Photo Library died in June 2009 after a short battle Joyda went on to establish the MRC Blood Page 14–15: © Manfred Kage / Science Photo Library with cancer. Pressure Unit with Anthony Lever and Ian (Bob) Page 16: © NIBSC / Science Photo Library Robertson at the Western Infirmary in Glasgow Page 17: © Zephyr / Science Photo Library Gordon was born in Church Street, Glasgow – Page 20: © Tom Finnie Photography, courtesy of Nexxus now the site of MRC Virology Unit – and in 1967, and continued to work there until his educated locally, graduating from Glasgow retirement in 1992. Together they maintained, University with an Honours degree in for more than two decades, a productive Microbiology in 1976 and gaining his PhD in research unit which combined high quality basic Forensic Science/Virology at Belvedere Hospital. and clinical research. Their research included both the basic mechanisms of blood pressure In 1979 he joined the MRC Blood Pressure Unit regulation and clinical studies that defined the in Glasgow. He was responsible for developing presentation and management of important, and introducing molecular techniques for and often rare, hormonal causes of high blood analysing differences in the aldosterone pressure. synthase gene CYP11B2 in both rare single-gene Medical Research Council disorders of hypertension (high blood pressure) Joyda was highly regarded internationally for his clinical practice, which was informed by 20 Park Crescent and in normal populations. He authored 23 London W1B 1AL papers over his career, most notably one on research-based observations, and also for his Tel: 020 7636 5422, Fax: 020 7436 6179 warm and generous nature. He wrote more than heritability of corticosteroid metabolism in www.mrc.ac.uk Scottish adult twins in 1999. Latterly he focused 150 papers over the course of his career. His on purifying aldosterone synthase. The unit unique contribution to hypertension research, closed in 1994, but Gordon and several other along with that of his colleagues Lever and former staff went on to form today’s MRC Blood Robertson, was recognised by the prestigious Pressure Group, also based in Glasgow. Ciba Award of the US Council for High Blood Pressure Research being jointly awarded to the Christine Holloway, who worked with Gordon, trio. Joyda was elected a Fellow of the Royal said: “Gordon is greatly missed by his many Society of Edinburgh in 1975 for his friends and colleagues. We have been truly contributions to clinical science. privileged to work at the MRC with Gordon for three decades. He had many talents. He was He is survived by two sons and two diligent, methodical and thorough in his grandchildren.