07/08 Annual report and accounts Medical Research Council Annual Report and Accounts 2007/08 Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, and by the Comptroller and Auditor General in pursuance of Schedule I, Sections 2(2) and 3(3) of the Science and Technology Act 1965. Sir John Chisholm Chairman Sir Leszek Borysiewicz Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Ordered by the House of Commons and printed on London: The Stationery Office 21 July 2008 Price: £18.55 HC 904 © Crown Copyright 2008 The text in this document (excluding the Royal Arms and other departmental or agency logos) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium providing it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright and the title of the document specified. Where we have identified any third party copyright material you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. For any other use of this material please write to Office of Public Sector Information, Information Policy Team, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU or e-mail: [email protected] ISBN:978 0102956993 ANNUAL REPORT 2007/08 CONTENTS The Medical Research Council 4 Executive Summary 6 Foreword 10 Strategic coordination: MRC and NIHR in partnership 14 Delivering knowledge 16 Translating discovery 24 Developing people 32 Working in partnership 38 Public engagement 44 Promoting best practice in research 50 Supporting research excellence 54 Increasing business effectiveness 60 Management Commentary 2007/08 64 Remuneration Report 2007/08 70 Annual Accounts 2007/08 76 THE MEDICAL RESEarcH COUNCIL The Medical Research Council (MRC) is a publicly-funded organisation dedicated to improving human health. We support research and training across the spectrum of basic and applied medical research in universities and hospitals, in our own units and institutes in the UK, and in our units in Africa. Established in 1913 to administer public funds for medical research, the MRC was incorporated under our present title by Royal Charter in 1920. Our Royal Charter and mission were last amended in 2003. The MRC’s mission is to: • Encourage and support high-quality research with the aim of improving human health. • Produce skilled researchers, and to advance and disseminate knowledge and technology to improve the quality of life and economic competitiveness in the UK. • Promote dialogue with the public about medical research. We receive a funding allocation from Parliament, through the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS)1, in line with the provisions of the Government’s spending review cycle, and receive additional funding from other sources including other government departments, international agencies, industry and medical research charities. Our current allocation from DIUS was agreed under the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR2007). By the end of CSR2007 (2010/11), the MRC will receive £682 million as its yearly budget. The increase in funding agreed under CSR2007 is one of the biggest commitments of support ever given to a research organisation, and will allow the MRC to maintain the strength and innovation of the fundamental sciences while increasing investment to speed up the translation of research into health benefits. This Annual Report describes our progress between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008 in meeting our strategic aims and objectives. A selection of the outstanding achievements of scientists supported by the MRC during 2007/08 are highlighted in our Annual Review. For more information about MRC activities and to view MRC publications visit www.mrc.ac.uk. COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP The MRC is governed by its Council which directs and oversees corporate policy and scientific strategy, ensures that the MRC is managed effectively and makes major policy and spending decisions. Council members share collective responsibility for the MRC’s actions and performance. Responsibility for implementing the Council’s strategy and decisions is delegated to the Chief Executive Sir Leszek Borysiewicz. Current membership (at 31 March 2008) Sir John Chisholm Chairman Sir Leszek Borysiewicz Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive (appointed 1 October 2007) Professor David Armstrong King’s College London 1 The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was established in June 2007 following the dissolution of the Department of Trade and Industry. MRC ANNUAL REPORT 2007/08 #4 Mr Michael Brooks Financial Management Consultant Dr Harry Burns Scottish Executive Health Department Professor Sally Davies Department of Health Professor Carol Dezateux University College London Professor Christopher Kennard Imperial College London Dr Michael McBride Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Professor Andrew McMichael University of Oxford Dr Lefkos Middleton Imperial College London John Neilson Observer for the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills Professor Sir John Savill University of Edinburgh Professor Herb Sewell University of Nottingham Outgoing members during 2007/08 Professor Colin Blakemore Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive (appointment ended 30 September 2007) Professor Kay Davies University of Oxford (appointment ended 29 December 2007) Dr Peter Fellner Vernalis, PLC (appointment ended 31 July 2007) Professor Genevra Richardson King’s College London (appointment ended 29 February 2008) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2007/08 MRC ANNUAL REPORT 2007/08 #6 We have also built on plans for capacity- Strategic coordination building in radiobiology and radiotherapy, Developing people nanotoxicology and respiratory research. Stem • The MRC and the National Institute for Health • The MRC employs more than 4,000 staff in cell science continues to be a major focus. We Research (NIHR) are working together to the UK and overseas through the intramural have also made progress with the renewal of respond to the challenges of the Government’s programme, and supports capacity – building our two largest institutes. review of UK health research funding. Each to increase the number of scientists in key organisation has innovative plans for investing and evolving disciplines. We reviewed and • The main mechanisms supporting activities EXECUTIVE the extra £355 million directed at publicly- updated the Human Resources Strategy for that promote translational research were funded health research through the 2007 2006–2009. response-mode schemes and targeted Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR2007). initiatives. Priorities and award highlights During 2007/08, the MRC and NIHR agreed • The MRC has made new commitments of included experimental medicine, the responsibilities relating to clinical trials and in over £72.2 million for training and career reshaping and refocusing of intervention key areas of public health need. development awards during 2007/08. and methodology research in the context of This supported 107 new fellowships and the new MRC-NIHR translational strategy, • Increased Government investment announced approximately 450 new post-graduate initiatives in translation research in infections, under CSR2007 will be instrumental in students (excluding masters awards). We have toxicology, vaccines and global health, allowing the MRC to plan and effect continued to increase our commitment to population and public health research and improvements on an ambitious scale, while it research training for clinicians making over 60 research to underpin policy development, such sustains existing strengths in basic research. new awards to clinicians. as addiction. Partnerships with NIHR and the UK health departments will continue to be essential in • The MRC approved its strategy for Women in • The MRC has continued to develop closer allowing us to do this and to increase and Science and developed its awareness raising relationships with industry – accelerating the refine translational activities. activities, completing a pilot programme translation of knowledge into practice and of diversity awareness workshops and ensuring that industry is involved in shaping continuing to implement the Gender, Race the future strategy of the MRC. During and Disabilities equalities schemes. During the 2007/08, we increased the number of expert year, the MRC’s equalities sub-committees Delivering knowledge and members from industry on the MRC’s research assessed 21 policies. translating discovery boards and panels. Industry experts are also represented on ad hoc committees which • The MRC has maintained high-quality basic have substantial delegated budgets. Over 980 research during 2007/08, and there has delegates attended MRC-industry showcases been a bigger drive to translate it – boosting involving scientists from academia and Partnerships capacity, developing research leadership and industry. The events highlighted new advances forming partnerships. We have also introduced and discoveries that aim to improve health. • Relationships with other research funders, changes to governance and funding structures such as the UK health departments and within to support strategy development and • Receipts from commercial activities industry continue to provide opportunities to the delivery of research priorities. During and capital disposals, managed by MRC align strategy and priorities and to develop 2008/09, we will implement further changes Technology, reached £85.4m in 2007/08, joint approaches and policy. to board structures, reflecting the developing bringing total