AUTUMN 2007 News from the Medical Research Council New Chief Executive as MRC gets cash boost A new Chief Executive, Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, took the helm of the MRC at the beginning of October. Sir Leszek, who comes from Imperial College London where he was Deputy Rector, spoke of his excitement about leading the MRC at a time of change and opportunity for the organisation: “I’m thrilled by the chance to work across the whole spectrum of biomedical science and to help to make a difference in relation to healthcare for individuals in the UK and globally.” The chairman of the MRC, Sir John Chisholm, welcomed Sir Leszek: “He is the perfect person to lead the MRC in the new environment of coordinated health research in the UK. I am delighted he’ll join us – his stature as a scientist and clinician reflects the importance of the role the MRC will play in a coordinated strategy for turning research findings into healthcare.” Timely arrival Sir Leszek joined the MRC just days before the Chancellor announced a significant increase in the organisation’s budget, from £543 million to £682 million a year by 2010. In his pre-budget report to the House of Commons on 10 October, Alistair Darling explained that he was funding recognised across the world. And so more British medical discovery can in full the recommendations of Sir David Cooksey’s review of publicly be translated into new health drugs, treatments and preventions… We funded health research including a single strategy for health research in will expand the single fund for health research to £1.7 billion by 2010.” the UK overseen by an Office for the Strategic Coordination of Health Research (OSCHR). Commenting on behalf of the MRC, Sir Leszek described the settlement as a great opportunity: “This significant government boost for health Mr Darling said: “Britain has more Nobel prize winners than any country research in the UK will maintain and strengthen the foundations of basic outside the USA. Yesterday another prize was awarded for medical biomedical science in the UK. But it will also enable researchers to do research, which is testament to Britain’s continued scientific success, more to translate discoveries into benefits for patients and society.” ‘Father of stem cell research’ wins Nobel Prize MRC-funded scientist Sir Martin Evans, has been awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine alongside Italian and UK-born US citizens Mario Capecchi and Oliver Smithies for their discoveries of “principles for introducing specific gene modifications in mice by the use of embryonic stem cells”. Sir Martin, former Director of the School of Biosciences and Professor of Mammalian Genetics of Cardiff University, has been supported throughout his career by the MRC. He was a pioneer in UK stem cell research 20 years ago at Cambridge University when he developed ways to culture embryonic stem cells derived from the mouse blastocyst – the ball of cells formed after fertilisation. He wins the prize for his work in gene targeting, a technique used to inactivate single genes. With gene targeting it is now possible to produce almost any type of DNA modification in the mouse genome, allowing scientists to establish the roles of individual genes in health and disease. Read more abour Sir Martin’s work at www.mrc.ac.uk/NewsViewsAndEvents/News. NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE AS MRC GETS CASH BOOST continued He went on: “The alignment of the MRC, the Department of The CSR also sees a budget increase for NIHR from £753 million in Health’s research arm – the National Institute for Health Research 2006/07 to £992 million a year by 2010. (NIHR) – and other public sector funders of medical research within a single integrated strategy through OSCHR will help to ensure Sir Leszek added: “The MRC has a huge role alongside NIHR of building the competitiveness of UK medical research in the future. The up the applicability of discovery into changes both in clinical practice comprehensive spending review (CSR) settlement will provide the seed and in drugs or other health interventions. We are working closely with corn from which we can produce improvements in human health more NIHR to develop joint implementation plans that will help us to achieve quickly and more efficiently in the coming years.” these goals, and will be announcing some initiatives soon.” AUTUMN 2007 CONTENTS Sir Leszek’s Journey 03 MRC says farewell to to the MRC Colin Blakemore Sir Leszek has a clinical academic background From vaccines to vision 04 RCUK Beijing office to help in viral immunology, infectious diseases, The past few decades have seen fantastic integrate research cell mediated immunity, virus associated developments in medical research. But 04 Joint ethics project with China malignancy and vaccine development. He Sir Leszek argues that the MRC’s duty to was born and schooled in Wales and studied make best use of these discoveries presents 05 Battling germs: new tactics medicine at the Welsh National School of both a challenge and an opportunity: “The Medicine. He came to London to further his unravelling of the human genome is a good 05 Biomarkers studies funded medical training at Hammersmith Hospital, example. We’ve got to actually get the benefits where he was attracted to the research of the human genome out. That means Research centre news 06 environment and became an MRC training concentration on basic mechanisms and how 06 NC3Rs: minimising the fellow to study viral immunology. Throughout the genes translate into products and into use of animals the first part of a distinguished career Sir novel mechanisms. And that should allow us Leszek held positions at hospitals in London, a greater and better understanding of disease 07 Opportunities Cambridge, The Gambia and Wales. processes and how they will actually impact.” He continued: “And at the clinical end, we 08 Weighing the economic He became head of the Faculty of Medicine have to better understand disease processes benefits of medical research at Imperial College London in 2001 and as they affect the individual and as they affect was promoted to Deputy Rector in 2004. In communities. Those are two very important 08 Tackling the toxic this role, Sir Leszek was responsible for the elements; from my own experience, I think the 09 Industry update overall academic and scientific direction of two are inextricably intertwined.” the college, particularly the development of 10 Unit profile: MRC inter-disciplinary research between engineering, Dr Richard Henderson, former Director of Laboratories, The Gambia physical sciences and biomedicine. the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB), also welcomed his appointment: “I was 13 MRC people Sir Leszek knows the MRC well. As well as delighted to learn that Sir Leszek Borysiewicz 14 Obituaries beginning his career with an MRC Clinical is the MRC’s new Chief Executive. As chair of Training Fellowship, he chaired the MRC the Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board we 15 Regulatory support centre Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board and found him to be very perceptive, knowledgeable up and running served on the MRC Council between 1995 and fair. He will be a great advocate for both and 2000. Between 1996 and 2001, Sir Leszek basic science and translation.” 15 Mental Capacity Act chaired a joint Department of Health/MRC advisory group that reviewed research and Another key theme in Sir Leszek’s vision is 16 Research roundup coordinated the human health research that the MRC continues to invest in training 18 Public engagement strategy on Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. the next generation of researchers who will bring forth their skills, knowledge and talent for 20 MRC Annual Review A founding fellow of the Academy of Medical the benefit of the wider community. “It is a big Sciences in 1996, Sir Leszek was a member of responsibility because these researchers will be 20 Molecular machines at the the Council of Cancer Research UK from 2002 behind discoveries of the future,” he said. MRC Virology Unit to 2005 and a governor of the Wellcome Trust from 2006 to 2007. In 2001 he was knighted Global health is also key to Sir Leszek’s strategy. for his services to developing vaccines, He said: “We have to be aware that we don’t including one to prevent cervical cancer. On live in global isolation in the UK and that issues appointment to the MRC, Sir Leszek retains no that surround global health are going to be of affiliation to any academic institution, except critical importance - the MRC has to play its for a single position as honorary consultant at part in ensuring that what we do is applicable St Mary’s Hospital in London. to the wider world community.” 2 NETWORK Autumn 2007 MRC says farewell to Colin Blakemore Professor Colin Blakemore finished his term as Chief Executive of the MRC at the end of September. Among his many achievements are his unfailing dedication to science communication and his commitment to using medical research to benefit people’s health. When he started his term at the MRC, Professor Colin Blakemore was asked if he would regret giving up the freedom of academic life and the excitement of research for pen-pushing in London. His reply was that the challenge of spending nearly half a billion pounds a year to nurture UK biomedical research was a huge honour – and, in any case, he had no intention of giving up research. “Colin has raised the public and professional profile of the MRC nationally and internationally and has effectively engaged the community in responding to changing research and Colin put the MRC at the forefront of new efforts to translate discovery financial environments,” said Sir John Chisholm, Chairman of the MRC.