network Winter 2005/06 News, views and information from the Medical Research Council In this issue £10m boost for flu research MRC College of Experts The Medical Research Council is set to increase funding of research into influenza Promoting scientific and other emerging infections by £10m. In excellence now and in late November 2005, it put out a call for the future proposals to enhance research to tackle page 2 emerging infections with a pandemic potential. The extra money comes on top Basic thinking of the £1.6m that the MRC had already spent on influenza research in 2005. A look at the importance of This recognition that extra funds for flu fundamental science to research were needed was prompted by a human health mission of MRC experts to Vietnam and page 4 China last October, led by Professor Andrew McMichael, chair of the MRC’s Discussions in progress during an MRC international flu workshop in Infections and Immunity Board.The team London, December 2005 Andrew StuartPhotograph by MRC wanted to discover more about the spread international of the avian flu virus and to discuss how The mission also visited several institutes in MRC scientists lead collaboration between the UK, China and Vietnam China, where biomedical research capacity is could be improved in the future. It also included growing quickly. Professor McMichael said: mission to China in Sir John Skehel – whose work at the MRC “They’re investing heavily in basic research and October 2005 National Institue for Medical Research has want to translate the findings into new products. page 6 explained how the 1918 flu virus kept its avian flu It was intriguing that there were so few human characteristics but was able to transmit between cases of H5N1 there compared to neighbouring Unit profile humans – Professor Anne Johnson, epidemiologist countries.That could be due to under-reporting, and deputy chair of the Infections and Immunity but equally it could be down to better control of Network visits the MRC Board, and Dr Xiao-Ning Xu, an expert in SARS the infection in poultry by vaccination.” The team Human Immunology at the MRC Human Immunology Unit. has backed efforts to exchange samples and Unit in Oxford information within China and south-east Asia, page 10 Opportunities for collaboration and more widely between World Health Vietnam has the highest recorded number of cases Organization laboratories.They also back short- of human infection by the H5N1 avian virus. The and long-term exchange of scientists. Schools initiatives MRC scientists visited five Vietnamese institutions Helping young people and were encouraged by the fact that officials Preparing for rapid response experience the wanted to co-ordinate the public and animal Looking ahead to the result of the call for excitement of science health responses to H5N1 both nationally and proposals, Professor McMichael said:“Some of the page 16 internationally. They identified three centres for research can begin as early as spring 2006. But we possible collaboration: the Hospital for Tropical also want to fund research which can only start if Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City, the Institute of and when influenza becomes an epidemic or Clinical Medicine and Tropical Diseases in Hanoi pandemic.” Plus and Vietnam’s National Institute of Hygiene and Opportunities, Epidemiology. The party concluded that there MRC Chief Executive Professor Colin Blakemore research roundup, were some urgent research questions, including added:“The strategy we’ve been developing here MRC people and what caused people to become so ill shows that we can move quickly when a health more… and what determined the recovery of about half crisis emerges.” of the patients. >> continues on page 12 2 MRC | network Winter 2005/06 Ensuring scientific excellence through the College of Experts Network reports on the group of expert scientists who peer review more than 1,500 applications each year for the MRC... As the UK’s leading public funder of end with reviewing funding applications – membership involved, Colin Blakemore medical research, the MRC must ensure they also have the opportunity to help asked for their views on current issues that the taxpayer’s money is spent on the Council to develop its scientific and in particular, the MRC’s policies on the highest quality science with a real strategy. Members are able to influence supporting clinical research and early- potential to improve human health. and contribute to the MRC’s work career scientists. Clearly welcoming this To achieve this, each research proposal through a range of activities, from annual opportunity for dialogue, they asked received from scientists must be workshops and participation in scientific many interesting and challenging scrutinised by at least three independent showcases to frequent consultations on questions, and offered some very useful experts before the MRC’s Research key issues.All of which means that suggestions.As a result, the members’ Boards decide whether or not to fund it. experience as a College member is an feedback has informed both the MRC’s But with applications now running at excellent grounding for scientists who plans for developing the College and its 1,500 per year across the MRC’s wide are interested in becoming a member of scientific strategy. and diverse portfolio, sourcing the a Research Board or a Training and required number of reviewers presents a Career Development Panel, or one of The workshop participants were considerable challenge. the MRC’s other expert advisory groups. particularly enthusiastic about learning more about their Research Boards’ To meet this need for expert senior scientific portfolios and contributing to scientists who can provide consistently “I look forward to being part development of the Boards’ scientific high-quality reviews and who understand of a thriving College of Experts, strategies. So the next step for the MRC the MRC’s work and strategic objectives, rather than simply one of many will be five workshops in 2006, each the Council set up a College of Experts involving College members, their in 2005.The College is made up of more reviewers working separately and individual MRC Research Board and the than 1,000 scientists who meet these without being able to see or input Board’s Strategy and Portfolio Overview demanding requirements, and who have into the bigger picture.” Group.The aim is for College members agreed to review at least six research Member of College of Experts to be able to hear more about their proposals per year. Each member is Board’s work, and to gain an insight into affiliated to one of the MRC’s five the work of the MRC’s Strategy Research Boards, so that the College’s A key relationship Overview Groups for clinical, public collective expertise spans the entire It goes without saying that building up a health and basic research.Another key range of the Council’s scientific portfolio. strong relationship with the new College theme of the day – to which members of Experts and facilitating communication will be encouraged to contribute – will Colin Blakemore, Chief Executive of the with and between its members is a key be the MRC’s priorities for funding from MRC, says:“The MRC’s reputation is built priority for the MRC. One way that the the Science Budget in the Government’s on the quality of science that it supports. MRC has been stimulating such dialogue 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review. We are very grateful to the members of and synergy was through a series of To complement these strategically the College of Experts for their central introductory workshops for new focussed workshops, individual members role in peer review, which underpins the members in summer 2005. Held in will be offered the opportunity to decisions we make.The College also Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol and observe their Research Board in action provides an essential link between the London and attended by more than 300 at a funding meeting. Boards of the MRC and the research members, the workshops gave them the community they serve.We look to the opportunity to meet Chief Executive Impact of Freedom of Information College to help us to develop our strategic Colin Blakemore, other MRC staff, and Act plans in ways that reflect the strengths one another.The format was a mixture Another topic of interest at the and needs of UK medical research.” of briefings, question-and-answer introductory workshops was the Freedom sessions and informal group discussions. of Information Act, which came into force Involvement in the bigger picture on 1 January 2005.The Act gives What makes the College unusual is that After the participants had learnt more individuals a legal right to obtain the members’ role does not begin and about the MRC and what their information held by public authorities and Winter 2005/06 MRC | network 3 universities, which raises serious questions about the anonymity and confidentiality of peer review reports. College members will be reassured to learn that the MRC and the other UK research councils have now agreed a common Freedom of Information peer review policy. It details what information the research councils will release, when, and to whom, Informal group discussion during an introductory College of Experts workshop in London, July 2005 throughout each stage of the peer review process.As Jerry Folkson, MRC Business CD. It will also be providing more web- – and encourage internationally Development Manager, confirmed,“The based guidance about reviewing, including competitive, appropriately costed MRC, along with the other research use of the MRC’s online reviewing system. applications, with a balance between councils, is improving the transparency of short-term and long-term programmes. its peer review process. However, we will Easing the load continue to preserve reviewers’ In 2004 the MRC made major changes to To help College members schedule their anonymity, and will not release any its funding schemes to give researchers reviewing commitments into their overall identifying details about reviewers in fewer, simpler and more flexible options.