network Spring/Summer 2006 News, views and information from the Medical Research Council In this issue Budget heralds radical new Flu science A look at the NIMR’s approach to UK medical research flu surveillance work health benefits:“This Budget confirmed vividly page 4 Gordon Brown’s commitment to research, especially medical research. It represents a real Biomarkers chance for substantial improvement for the workshop funding arrangements in the UK, facilitating the Will biomarkers interaction between basic and clinical research.” change the future Colin Blakemore observed that the Chancellor’s of medicine? announcement demonstrated his confidence in page 6 British scientists; also that his thinking is underpinned by figures from the OSI showing that Unit profile the UK now leads the group of the eight largest Network visits the industrial nations in its biomedical and pre-clinical MRC Protein research productivity. Phosphorylation “The UK’s record in supporting world-class Unit in Dundee Chancellor Gordon Brown delivers the 2006 Budget speech medical research through the MRC is second page 10 in the House of Commons on 22 March. to none. Developments in science can be Mind the found in every aspect of our daily lives Within the first few minutes of his 2006 Budget including breakthroughs on ageing and drug gender gap speech, Chancellor Gordon Brown made clear that research.The DTI is committed to ensuring How the MRC is science – in education and research – is central to that science and innovation are at the heart of helping women the Government’s plans for the British economy in the coming decades. One of his most radical government, and that we maintain the UK’s progress in science proposals was for a single fund of more than £1 leading position in medical research.We will page 14 billion ring-fenced for the MRC and for Department build on the outstanding achievements of the of Health (DH) R&D, to support the full spectrum MRC and ensure we are facilitating the National Science of biological and clinical research in the UK. How research base in the best possible way.” Week this new arrangement will work in practice is being Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for the Department A run-down of the determined through a consultation process chaired of Trade and Industry (DTI). events organised by Sir David Cooksey and steered by the Treasury and representatives of the DH and the Office of by MRC scientists Science and Innovation (OSI; the new name of the The importance of preserving the independence this year OST), which will be reporting back in the autumn. from government enjoyed by the research councils page 18 The MRC is keen to hear a wide variety of views to is recognised. Science and innovation investment help us develop our own contribution. Comments framework 2004-2014: next steps sets out the can be made through the MRC website (see box, Government’s vision for scientific research, Plus page 2). But formal submissions should be made recognising that funding must ensure “the Stem cell science, directly to Sir David’s consultation. continued delivery of world-class basic science, new faces, according to the long-standing Haldane principle research roundup, MRC Chief Executive Colin Blakemore welcomed which states that day-to-day decisions on research MRC people the Chancellor’s news. Integrating the two funding council scientific funding must be taken at arms- and more… streams could increase the speed and efficiency length from ministers. Funding would continue to with which basic research can be translated into be awarded on the basis of excellence across the >> page 2 2 MRC | network Spring/Summer 2006 << The budget full spectrum of health research, from basic to clinical and public health.This will include continued support for investigator-led Backing new ideas in research”. clinical research Building on MRC success Experimental medicine is research that takes place at the Colin Blakemore’s hope is that the single fund will provide the interface of laboratory and patient-based studies. In recent opportunity to build on the MRC’s considerable achievements: years both the Government and the clinical research “We’re committed to supporting high-quality research across the community have drawn attention to the relative lack of entire spectrum of the biomedical and clinical sciences.We are investment in this area. In 2005 the MRC responded to these proud of our international reputation for achievement – from the concerns by making up to £15 million available for new introduction of penicillin and discovery of the structure of DNA research in experimental medicine.To help get a clear picture to the development of MRI; from the creation of blockbuster of how much funding was appropriate and where it was most antibody drugs to vital clinical trials, such as those on statins and on vaccines in Africa.” needed, the MRC invited ‘expressions of interest’ from the research community.These took the form of brief sketches The Budget statement emphasises the Treasury’s recognition of the which outlined the aims and costs of the proposed studies. crucial link between science funding and innovation. Colin Faced with almost 1,000 expressions of interest totalling Blakemore added:“Companies, universities and the public all over £350 million, the MRC Clinical Research Overview Group the UK are reaping the benefits of breakthroughs made by MRC- funded scientists.We are determined to expand that success even honed the call. Focusing on need and the best use of further. Combining the funding of the MRC and the DH will resources, it invited proposals that “evaluate a novel produce gains in efficiency and opportunities for collaboration that intervention, including an entirely novel application of an should benefit medical researchers throughout the UK.” already existing treatment in human participants with the aim to provide proof of concept.” Colin Blakemore says the MRC is looking forward to exploiting its strengths in biomedical research through continued close working In March 2006, the MRC with all the health departments, including those of Scotland,Wales awarded £15 million to and Northern Ireland.The organisation is keen to demonstrate scientists across the medical that it can respond quickly and effectively to clinical as well as research disciplines.The scientific challenges. successful applications ranged from research into the use of Developing UK science skills melatonin to reduce brain The Budget contained more good news for science in its damage in pre-term infants commitment to achieve a step change in the area of science and Blood cells infected by the and the effect of statins on the UK economy.The Government aims to create more science malaria parasite. asthma, to testing a malaria graduates and more science entrepreneurs.This chimes well with vaccine by using killer T cells against the parasite in liver cells. the MRC’s mission to sustain and develop the UK’s research capacity by training skilled scientists and supporting them at A huge boost for patient-based research, these awards will every stage of their careers. exploit the UK’s unique potential for such work. As the Government’s Next steps document points out,“few other The Next steps document points out the growing competition countries have a health service that provides researchers presented by China and India and emphasises “the need to adapt in with the potential to access virtually the entire population, order to continue to attract and retain high-value economic through an integrated system of primary, secondary and activities”. Anticipating this global scenario, the MRC is rapidly building its collaborations with scientists in China and south-east tertiary care.” Asia to ensure it can meet the health priorities and medical opportunities of the future, in the UK and around the world. Collective commitment Find out more online The MRC’s £15 million investment in experimental medicine is part of a national strategy involving partners in the UK Single health research fund web forum Clinical Research Collaboration. Other initiatives include the http://extra.mrc.ac.uk/forms/shrf funding of new clinical research infrastructure by the Science and innovation investment framework 2004–2014: next steps Wellcome Trust,The Wolfson Foundation and the Health www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/1E1/5E/bud06_science_332.pdf Departments, to which the MRC will contribute a number of Budget 2006 summary MRI scanners for use in experimental medicine studies. http://budget2006.treasury.gov.uk/ Spring/Summer 2006 MRC | network 3 Steps forward in stem cell science Following the International Stem Cell Forum’s meeting in January, Network brings readers an update on its work to establish and safeguard standards in stem cell science worldwide... In January 2006 members of the International Stem Cell Forum challenging task of reviewing the differing ethical and regulatory (ISCF) gathered in Paris for their fourth annual meeting, which approaches of all countries that fund stem cell science, with a was chaired by MRC Chief Executive Colin Blakemore.Topics particular emphasis on research involving embryonic stem cells. ranged from progress in international collaboration and the Future work of the group will include developing a global register of Forum’s work on standardising characterisation of stem cell lines clinical trials involving therapeutic use of stem cells. worldwide, to its new online cell registry and cooperation between stem cell banks. The importance of ethics to stem cell research was brought into sharp focus when South Korean scientist Dr Woo-Suk Hwang Key ISCF projects admitted that he had falsified his research results. Dr Hwang Members were updated on two key ISCF working group projects – published papers in Science in 2004 and 2005 claiming that he had the International Stem Cell Initiative (ISCI) and a global review of created the world’s first cloned human embryos and 11 stem cell ethics and regulation of stem cell research.