Network AW 2004.qxd 10/11/2004 13:40 Page 1 network Autumn/Winter 2004 News, views and information from the Medical Research Council In this issue... MRC integral to UK clinical Funding update research drive News of competition for MRC funding in Speaking at the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) in 2004/05 and the application June, Lord Warner of Brockley announced the formation review process of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) – a page 2 multi-partner initiative launched to give a major boost to clinical research in the UK.The Government has also set up a new MRC/Health Departments (HDs) Joint Health Francis Crick Delivery Group to increase the strategic coordination of 1916-2004 publicly funded medical research and support the UKCRC. A colleague pays tribute to one of the founding fathers UKCRC of molecular biology The UKCRC was a key recommendation of the Research page 4 for Patient Benefit Working Party set up in response to "We welcome Chancellor Gordon Brown's budget influential reports in Autumn 2003 by the AMS and the announcement of a cash injection for medical research Government's Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team. over the next four years, and will be working even more Basic Technology With a mission to coordinate and transform clinical closely with the Government and the Health Departments November showcase for research in the UK, the partnership will involve the MRC, to address national health priorities in the years ahead." progress by MRC scientists Government, the NHS, academia, medical charities, Colin Blakemore, MRC Chief Executive in the Research Councils UK industry and the public. Its initial priorities are working to build up the NHS research infrastructure and a skilled Basic Technology programme clinical research workforce, streamlining regulatory and Joint Health Delivery Group page 5 governance processes, and coordination between funding In July the Government announced the 2004 Spending bodies. It also aims to enhance career opportunities at all Review settlement for science (allocations to individual Unit profile levels within clinical research.These priorities match those Research Councils are expected early in 2005) and a The MRC Social and Public that the MRC set out in its bid for 2004 Spending Review 10-year investment framework. To ensure that there is funding, to reinforce its commitment to clinical research, more effective coordination of medical research between Health Sciences Unit, and the MRC will play a central role in the UKCRC. public sector funders, it commissioned the MRC/HDs Joint Glasgow The chair, Professor Sally Davies, Director of NHS R&D, is Health Delivery Group.The Group held its first meeting in pages 6 & 7 an MRC Council member, and the executive team is to be October, and senior MRC and HDs officials are meeting in hosted at the MRC's head office.The team is led by Acting November to develop the workplan in more detail. Value added science Chief Executive Dr Liam O'Toole, who was previously Two new MRC Technology head of the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI), Take your partners which the MRC was instrumental in establishing. Medical research is a multifaceted enterprise. Government initiatives can help to realise agencies, industry, medical charities, academic researchers, the commercial potential The MRC has set up a Clinical Research Advisory Group, doctors, patients and the public all have an important of your research chaired by CEO Colin Blakemore, to advise its Council on contribution to make to the delivery of new medicines, page 9 the MRC's role in the drive to boost UK clinical research diagnostic tests, healthcare products and treatments.The and its positioning within the UKCRC. new partnerships among these key players are essential to MRC at the BA achieving the shared goal of turning scientific advances UKCRN into benefits for patients. MRC research on show at To support the UKCRC, the Department of Health the 2004 British Association (England) is forming a UK Clinical Research Network Find out more online festival of science (UKCRN), with funds earmarked to strengthen clinical For further information about UKCRC visit trials infrastructure. Modelled on the successful cancer pages 10 & 11 www.ukcrc.org research network, the UKCRN will initially cover the Academy of Medical Sciences – Strengthening Clinical Research other existing NHS network, in mental health, and new www.acmedsci.ac.uk/p_scr.pdf Plus... ones in the priority areas of medicines for children, Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team – Bioscience 2015 – Opportunities, stroke, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.Tendering for Improving National Health, Increasing National Wealth Research centre news, the UKCRN Central Coordinating Centre is underway, www.bioindustry.org/bigtreport/ International, Events and proposals are being developed for coordinating Science & innovation investment framework 2004-2014 centres in each of the six networked research areas, with diary, MRC people and www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spending_review/spend_sr04/ more… those for cancer and mental health expected to be fully associated_documents/spending_sr04_science.cfm operational in Spring 2005. Network AW 2004.qxd 05/11/2004 15:22 Page 2 2 MRC|network Autumn/Winter 2004 MRC Research Board funding 2004/05 The Spring edition of Network told readers about major changes to MRC grant schemes and application processing. We would now like to update you on the level of competition for funding in 2004/05 and on our processes for reviewing the increasing number of applications. The review process The MRC's new arrangement for reviewing applications No. of Whole life value of Funding commenced from the October/November 2004 Board applications applications (£m) available (£m) cycle. All applications continue to go through the peer- 2 2 2 1st Board cycle – May/June 2004 200 145.6 37.8 review process to ensure that those of the highest quality 3 are funded. After external peer review, a shortlist for 2nd Board cycle – Oct/Nov 2004 310 195.3 32.4 1 3 consideration by each of the Research Boards will be drawn 3rd Board cycle – Jan/Feb 2005 658 212.4 32.4 up by the triage panel, a subcommittee of the Research Board, on the basis of referees' reports. Those with the 1. Intentions to apply (actual application numbers and values will be published shortly) lowest chance of success will be declined at this stage. 2. Includes final cooperative grant applications and funding (£6.6m) in addition to the £96m Board budget allocation New Intention to Apply form 3. Indicative budget There has been a significant increase in applications following the introduction of the new Research and Collaboration Grant Schemes. Given that each application for consideration at its next meeting if it feels the application may be competitive for must be peer-reviewed by up to five referees depending funding at the future meeting. In addition, applicants may withdraw their application during on its size and complexity, this poses a problem in terms the refereeing stage in order to submit their application to a future, less competitive Board of the overall number of reviewers required. To help the cycle. MRC deal with this challenge, we have asked researchers applying to the Board cycles in January/February 2005 and Where an application is declined by the triage panel or Research Board, the applicant may May/June 2005 to give us advance warning by submitting not resubmit it within the following 12 months. an Intention to Apply form through the MRC website. Depending on application trends this year, we may ask Competition for funding 2004/05 applicants for notification of intention to apply in The above table shows this year's current trends in application numbers, awards and MRC subsequent Board cycles. Where the demand for referees funding available by Board cycle. The information is also available on the MRC website, exceeds the number available, the MRC will need to use www.mrc.ac.uk/funding_available_2004-05, where it will be updated for each Board special Board panels to review smaller applications. cycle (approximately every four months). Shortly after the end of the 2004/05 financial year we will publish details, by university, of number of applications, awards and spread of scores. Research Board funding decisions If you have any specific enquiries about the MRC's review process, please email: An MRC Research Board will only hold over an application [email protected] Research centre news New Centre celebrates The MRC/University of Sussex Genome Damage and Stability Centre (GDSC) Development achieved full Centre status in October. Directed by Professor Tony Carr, the Centre investigates how cells respond to genetic damage and how these processes relate to cancer and other aspects of human disease. A major focus is the mechanisms that repair DNA damage caused by constant daily attack by sunlight, agents in food and wear-and-tear. A sculpture and plaque were unveiled in the Centre foyer to mark the occasion.The MRC contributed £500 towards the sculpture, Cross-over, which is an abstract representation of the junction formed between pairs of DNA strands when they exchange partners.This recombination process is fundamental to much of the Centre's work.The sculptor is Dr Robin Holliday, a retired scientist who first proposed the eponymous "Holliday Junction" that inspired the piece in 1964. At the unveiling ceremony, Professor Penny Jeggo, who studied in his lab, said: "The sculpture will create a positive impression for the Centre and remind our students and researchers of the wonderful history of their subject and the close relationship between science and art." Left to right: Professors Penny Jeggo,Tony Carr and Alan Lehmann, GDSC Chairman, unveil Cross-over. To find out more about the GDSC visit www.biols.susx.ac.uk/gds Network AW 2004.qxd 11/11/2004 11:25 Page 3 Autumn/Winter 2004 MRC|network 3 Review of MRC support for early Opportunities career non-clinical scientists The MRC offers support for talented individuals who want to develop research careers in the biomedical The MRC is reviewing its support for non-clinical scientists in sciences, public health, and health services.