Donation: the Lifeblood of the NHS
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News from the Medical Research Council Autumn 2018 network Leading science for better health Bl d donation: the lifeblood of the NHS Opinion: How secure data sharing can help us treat dementia Network can also be downloaded as a PDF at: mrc.ukri.org/network CONTENTS News COMMENT FROM Happy birthday to the NHS! 4 Health data: first UK snapshot review 5 Fiona Watt EXECUTIVE CHAIR People As the UK Research and Innovation Royal recognition for Nobel Prize-winner 9 Champion for Talent and Skills, I'm passionate about supporting researchers at the most pivotal points of their careers. It seems clear that we should be investing in Funding the best people, regardless of career stage and geography. £900m for future leaders 15 To help build expertise and opportunities for future careers, we're adding more activities to the list of those eligible to researchers employed on MRC grants, to cover activities that do not directly relate to their Latest discoveries specific research project. Potential therapy identified for common Supporting the career development of research staff is cause of dementia 16 equally important as supporting our researchers. That's why we've introduced a new 'research co-investigator' status for Eye drops with turmeric extract could research staff on MRC grants, to provide recognition for treat common eye disease 17 their intellectual research contributions and to help career development (see page 3). Sharing data and recognising individual research contributions are vital, especially for early-career Features researchers. I'm pleased to see the Dementias Platform UK leading the way with their data portal – a secure platform Blood donation: the lifeblood of the NHS 6 for sharing and analysing dementia research data. They are adopting a system to 'badge' the contribution of everyone in MRC Festival: Bringing research to life 12 the team behind publications that involve use of their portal (see page 22). Working life: Dr Oluwafemi Akande 18 By nurturing our researchers and research staff we can Going further to make all clinical trials public 20 continue to support high-quality research for better health. Opinion: How secure data sharing can help Professor Fiona Watt us treat dementia 22 MRC Executive Chair NEWS New grant application status recognises research staff contributions network To support development and career magazine going digital progression, the MRC has introduced a new status of 'researcher After 15 years, this issue of Network co-investigator' to recognise the magazine is our last printed issue. But contributions of research staff on you can still find all our content online on grant applications. our website and blog. Applicants ineligible to be a principal investigator Since spring 2003 we've published 64 issues. Times have or co-investigator have historically had little changed, and our online subscriber numbers have grown formal recognition of their contributions to the to the extent that we feel going digital is the way forward. grant application and subsequent funded research. This has created a barrier to career Digital subscription progression for affected research staff, such as postdocs, technicians and clinical fellows. You can sign up to be notified when we publish new content on our website, blog or podcast. By managing By introducing the researcher co-investigator your subscriptions, through the following link, you can status, we hope to provide research staff with opt in and out at any time: recognition for their research contributions, mrc.io/mrcsubscribe to assist with their career progression. In addition to receiving recognition, those Back issues listed as a researcher co-investigator should be supported in their training and development Keen to read a print copy of an old issue? We are very throughout the grant, serving as a step towards happy to send past issues to you – get in touch at their desired career. [email protected]. For further information visit: mrc.io/rcoi Feedback As always, we love receiving your feedback. If you have any questions, comments or ideas please share them with us at: [email protected] Our website: mrc.ukri.org • Our blog: mrc.ukri.org/blog MRCNetwork | 3 NEWS New scheme for overseas researchers to come to the UK YEARS OF THE NHS 1948-2018 A new scheme allows researchers, scientists and academics from outside the European Economic Area to come to the UK for collaboration, training and work experience for up to two years. The 'UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Science, Research and Academia' scheme, added to the Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange) visa route in July, has been introduced to increase efficiency and better suit the needs of researchers in Happy birthday to the NHS! the UK. Operated by UKRI it enables approved research On 5 July, the NHS celebrated a historic organisations to directly sponsor a broad range of milestone – its 70th birthday. Since its researchers – including specialist technicians – to work and train in the UK. The scheme complements the creation in 1948, the NHS has delivered a free Sponsored Researchers Tier 5 scheme that applies to healthcare service based on clinical need. UK universities, and which has been updated in line with the new scheme. UKRI will monitor the 12 approved Professor Fiona Watt, Executive Chair of the MRC, said: sponsor organisations. "MRC-funded research underpins many of the world-class treatments and methods of diagnosis used within the UKRI Chief Executive Professor Sir Mark Walport said: NHS today. "Research and innovation is inherently international, as are the unprecedented 21st century challenges we "Our close relationship with the NHS has given, and must address. continues to give, MRC-funded researchers the data, resources and inspiration they need to carry out "Global collaboration through the movement of life-changing research that makes a real difference to talented people plays an essential role in meeting these clinical practice." challenges and this new scheme will provide further support for international researchers to work and train To celebrate, we've launched an NHS 70 timeline showing in the UK." a selection of MRC research that has improved NHS treatment and services: from setting up a national network Read more: mrc.io/ukri-scheme of blood banks at the beginning of the World War II, to treating a rare liver disease in 2016. Direct specific questions to: [email protected] Explore our NHS 70 timeline: mrc.io/nhs-timeline Turn to page 6 to read about blood donation's beginnings. 4 | MRCNetwork For more news from across the MRC community, visit: mrc.ukri.org/news Health data: first UK snapshot review Health data research is a complex and flourishing area in the UK, as highlighted in a new MRC report. The Mapping the Landscape of UK Health Data The report acts as an important benchmark to help Research and Innovation report details key activities inform funder strategy, prevent duplication and and major investments made by UK public funders, encourage collaboration in the informatics sector, government, charities and universities. both within the field and for external stakeholders. Commissioned in 2017, the report is a snapshot of Dr Rob Buckle, Chief Science Officer at the MRC, said: activity in a fast-moving sector. It provides a unique "This report highlights what a diverse and exciting window into major investments made by 26 research area health data research is. This sector is thriving and, organisations, and informed the establishment of the in addition to its importance for promoting health and new MRC-funded national institute – Health Data wellbeing, has huge potential to help deliver the Research UK (HDR UK). HDR UK's mission is to make UK Industrial Strategy, making the UK a global leader game-changing improvements in the health of patients among the industries of the future." and populations through data science research and innovation. Read more at: mrc.io/hdruk-snapshot UK and India joining forces for global health Seven multidisciplinary research partnerships between the UK and India will lead projects to address the health needs of women and children in disadvantaged populations globally. Researchers in Ethiopia, Uganda, The Gambia, Zambia and Nepal will work with the seven partnerships to ensure that the results meet each country’s needs. The teams will receive a total of £10m under the Global Research Programme on Health initiative. Alex Harris, International Programme Manager at the MRC, said: "Every year, worldwide, 2.7 million babies die during the first 28 days of life and 99% of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries. Creating environments for healthy pregnancies and infant development is a major priority for global health research. This exciting initiative will see the UK and India join forces to tackle this key global health challenge." The MRC and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), both part of UKRI, are delivering the programme in collaboration with the Department for International Development and India's Department of Biotechnology, under the Newton-Bhabha Fund. Read more about the projects: mrc.io/uk-india MRCNetwork | 5 FEATURE Bl d donation: the lifeblood of the NHS As the NHS turns 70, Petra Kiviniemi delves into the MRC archive to reveal a history of blood donation closely intertwined with the birth of the NHS. Every two seconds, someone needs blood. Blood donations help millions of people, and many would not be alive today if it wasn't for the generosity of donors and care by our NHS. But the experience of being a volunteer blood donor was a very different picture back in the 1920s. Back then, nearly a century ago – and more than 20 years before the birth of the NHS – donations needed to be directly transferred from one person to another.