Professor Tumani Corrah Honoured
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MRC May 2014 News from the MRC community The Chancellor visits the LMB to announce future support for science The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon George Osborne, visited the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge on Friday 25 April to announce details of the long-term plan for science capital investment. Mr Osborne was welcomed by MRC LMB Director Sir Hugh Pelham and shown some of the world-class facilities in the new laboratory, which was opened by Her Majesty The Queen last May. In his speech, the Chancellor announced the launch of a consultation on allocating the Government’s £7 billion science capital budget. Mr Osborne lauded the LMB’s achievements and “fantastic pedigree” including the discovery of the structure of DNA, nine Nobel prizes and various spin-out companies. In response, Declan Mulkeen, MRC Chief Science Officer, said: “Government’s commitment to long-term, stable funding for research capital developments is very good news for medical research, and UK science overall.” The Chancellor and Dr Melina Schuh On his visit, the Chancellor was introduced to the work of Dr Melina Schuh, a Group Leader in the MRC LMB Cell Biology Division. Dr Schuh’s laboratory studies show how fertilisable eggs (oocytes) develop in mammals, with the long-term goal of identifying and analysing mechanisms that lead to abnormal eggs, which are the leading genetic cause of miscarriage and congenital birth defects. For further information please visit: www.mrc.ac.uk/Newspublications/News/MRC009816 Professor Tumani Corrah honoured On 10 April 2014 Professor Tumani Corrah, MRC Director, Africa Research Development, was invested with the title ‘Emeritus Director’ by Sir John Savill, MRC Chief Executive, at a ceremony attended by members of the MRC’s Management Board. He was given a special certificate engraved on hardwood, designed by MRC Design Manager, Vin Kumar. The award, approved by the MRC’s Council, was made to recognise Professor Corrah’s outstanding achievements in his former role as Director of MRC The Gambia and in support of his ongoing work in Africa. Sir John Savill presenting Professor Tumani Corrah with the hardwood certificate MRC Life is an internal newsletter for the MRC community and is not intended for wider distribution MRCLife | 1 Executive Corner I was very pleased that the Chancellor, George Osborne, chose an MRC institute, the LMB in Cambridge, to launch the Government’s consultation on science capital spending on 25 April. In part, it reflects the fact that the relatively new LMB building, which opened in spring 2013, is an excellent example of a major capital project, delivered successfully by the MRC and meeting all expectations. It was encouraging to hear the Chancellor speak of a personal passion for science and the key role that science has to play in the Government’s overall economic strategy. The detail of the speech contained many positives, in particular his recognition of the need for sustained science funding over a number of years; a far-sighted view from government is vital for the type of long-term, fundamental science that the MRC excels at. The MRC will consult with the other six research councils and provide a response to the consultation by July, providing our view on the priorities for capital spending in order to secure a strong future for medical research with all the associated economic benefits. During April BIS published the findings of its Triennial Review of the Research Councils, a review which examined whether the current structure of the research councils was fit for purpose. As anticipated, the review concluded that the seven councils were working well in their existing form. There are recommendations for achieving even greater synergy and these will now be reviewed by the councils. The full report is available via http://mrc.io/triennial2014. Bruce Minty Chief Operating Officer MRC scientist wins Rising Star Award The Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS) Rising Star Award is a distinguished prize for early career researchers in schizophrenia and other related disorders; this year it has been awarded to Dr Oliver Howes, Group Leader, Psychiatric Imaging Group at the MRC Clinical Sciences Centre. SIRS is the largest schizophrenia research society in the world and its board comprises many of the leading researchers in the field. This year’s award was announced on 7 April at the 4th Biennial SIRS conference, Florence, Italy. “It’s an honour to receive this accolade. The award is fantastic recognition for the hard work of all the group members,” said Dr Howes. Dr Howes’ research focuses on the causes of mental illnesses in order to improve treatment. His group, which primarily uses functional imaging and experimental models in patients, has made a series of important discoveries that are of vast significance toward understanding the role of dopamine in schizophrenia. Professor Amanda Fisher, Director of the MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, said: “It is fantastic that Rising star, Dr Oliver Howes Oliver Howes has won this award – he is certainly a rising star and this recognition by SIRS is richly deserved.” For further information on SIRS please visit: www.schizophreniaresearchsociety.org 2 | MRCLife Imanova welcomes the Mayor of London On 8 April 2014 Imanova Ltd, the London-based centre for imaging sciences, hosted a visit from the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to mark the launch of the major new MedCity initiative. The MedCity initiative aims to boost collaboration and drive economic growth by bringing together the life sciences sector across London, Cambridge and Oxford. Imanova announced that it was pleased to have the support of the Mayor and to join the wider MedCity initiative. Commenting on his visit to Imanova, the Mayor of London said: “I have just had the privilege of having my brain scanned at a brilliant company called Imanova which is the product of a union The Mayor of London experiences 3D scanning technology between Imperial, UCL, King’s and the MRC. “Together with Oxford and Cambridge we form a ‘golden triangle’ of scientific innovation and we need to channel that intellectual pre-eminence into a positive impact on our economy. MedCity will span everything from research to clinical trials to manufacturing, across biotech, med tech and health tech.” For further information please visit: www.imanova.co.uk/news/2014/04/mayor-of-london-experiences-for- himself-latest-3d-brain-scanning-techniques-from-imanova-during-medcity-launch/ WIMM launches Public Engagement Award Postdoctoral research scientist Bryony Graham has won first prize in the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM) Public Engagement Award. The new annual award is open to early career WIMM members and is supported by the MRC. Chair of the judges, Dr Hal Drakesmith, said: “The WIMM understands the importance of facilitating public understanding of biomedical research. The award was set up to motivate and reward younger researchers in the WIMM to get involved in engagement activities and help promote the work of the WIMM in understanding and treating human diseases. Public Engagement Award winner Bryony Graham (centre) with “The winning entry by Bryony Graham, developing the WIMM Blog, was WIMM Director, Professor Doug Higgs, and Scientific Advisory chosen because it creates a portal for many WIMM members to highlight Board Chair, Professor Wendy Bickmore and explain their work to the interested public.” Bryony said: “I’m hugely grateful to the MRC for this award and for supporting this project. I think that blogging is a fantastic way of making complex scientific concepts accessible – something which is particularly important at institutes like the WIMM which focus on research that is directly relevant to the clinic, and therefore patients.” The winners were announced at the WIMM annual science day on 28 March. Bryony received the first prize of £500 and runners up Madeleine Hipp and Caroline Scott each received £250. MRC Life is an internal newsletter for the MRC community and is not intended for wider distribution MRCLife | 3 Understanding animal research What do you do when people say that the world of animal research is too secretive, too closed? It is a constant criticism made by members of the public and abolitionist organisations and it is not always easy to answer convincingly. But this year, for Science Week 2014, three MRC units decided to do something about it by taking up the challenge and opening their animal units for visits by local schoolchildren. The MRC National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), MRC Centre for Macaques and MRC Harwell joined with five other organisations across the UK in the Open Labs project co-ordinated by Understanding Animal Research. School children had the chance to hear about the work that went on and to see the animals that made it possible for themselves. NIMR took 65 children from two London schools in a programme of fun hands-on activities that, combined with the animals, left a deep impression on their visitors. Kathleen Mathers, Director of Biological & Procedural Services, said: “The open labs visit to MRC NIMR was fab! It was immensely enjoyable for all participants; the staff and students alike. The staff had a real opportunity to showcase their work and demonstrate their pride and the contribution they and the animals make to medical research. A great experience and one we look forward to repeating.” Alan Palmer, Technical and Training Manger, added: “There were some great comments when I was showing them the experimental mouse unit where I got to show them some of the work in progress. We also had a play with some stock mice that they handled. They were enthralled with this. They loved the animals and couldn’t believe how normal looking and docile they were.” At the MRC Centre for Macaques, sixth formers from three Salisbury schools had the excitement of seeing macaque monkeys which so impressed them that one has asked to come back for work experience.