The research councils have decided to end funding for the UK National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN) it has emerged today.

I have covered the work of the UKNSCN before on this blog. It had its faults but my overall impression was that it added value to the debate.

A review of its work would seem sensible but why pull the carpet from under it out now, rather than wait for the outcome of that work?

It is frightening how quickly such networks can disassemble and, with it, a culture of sharing and collaboration disappear . My experience is that these things are much more difficult to re-engineer once lost. Would it not have been better to refashion something out of the existing foundation?

But there you have it. It is a sign of the times that we seem to favour disruption or demolition instead of evolution.

It all seems short-sighted if not premature.