It's high time we got over it. Pretending it doesn't go on is foolish. Suspecting the worst every time they come near to one another is energy-sapping. No one is trying to deny history. But we are in danger of denying others a future if we continue to stand in their way. I mean, of … Continue reading Excellent new guidance published to help charities and pharma work together with the public’s trust @ABPI_UK @NVTweeting
charities
Who are the good, the bad and the ugly at involving the public in medical research? New comparative figures for Government, charities and industry
What should we make of the latest figures from INVOLVE and the Health Research Authority (HRA) showing which funders are best at public involvement in research? In a re-run of an joint-exercise first done in 2010, INVOLVE and the HRA looked at the public involvement component of over 1100 research applications that went before research ethics … Continue reading Who are the good, the bad and the ugly at involving the public in medical research? New comparative figures for Government, charities and industry
Why do charities play the numbers game when talking ‘burden of illness’ and medical research?
I notice that there has been a fair bit of news generated today by the charity, Autistica, who have published a study showing that autism costs the UK £32 billion per year in terms of treatment, lost earnings etc. The study was conducted by researchers at the London School of Economics (LSE) and follows one … Continue reading Why do charities play the numbers game when talking ‘burden of illness’ and medical research?
Fight the good fight: medical research charity advertising slogans
Over the last few months, I have been noting down charity advertising copy as I go about London. Here are ten. Notice any trends? Diagnosed with blood cancer, Chloe only has one hope...YOU. Text HOPE.... Anthony Nolan Trust 2013 Elliot is deafblind. He can't tell it's Christmas. Text TOY to....Sense Help us beat cancer sooner … Continue reading Fight the good fight: medical research charity advertising slogans
Time’s up for the Charity Commission as we know it. But I’m just a donor so what do I know.
Amidst the balderdash, bureaucracy and blocking that passes for government these days, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and its Chair, Margaret Hodge MP, have become something of the nation's conscience. This week Margaret Hodge is reported by Third Sector magazine as suggesting the Charity Commission could be scrapped. At the very least she has said … Continue reading Time’s up for the Charity Commission as we know it. But I’m just a donor so what do I know.
From peer review to clinical trials
So there I was this morning talking about peer review, when what should come through the Ovarian Cancer Action letterbox but our certificate of best practice from the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) for our peer reivew practices. It's great to have this 'quality-mark' for all that we do as a research funder. If … Continue reading From peer review to clinical trials
‘Scroll down’ for clinical trials
To begin with, here's more on that Pfizer story about use of mobile phone technology etc in clinical trials. It seems to have piqued an interest among many of you anyway. Also on the subject of clinical trials, I was rather perplexed by this story running out of the NHS Confederation this morning. I'm delighted … Continue reading ‘Scroll down’ for clinical trials
Flying in the face of an interregnum
As a self-confessed member of the worried well, I ask that people think carefully before they throw strange words at me. Particularly on the day of a regular visit to my 'prescription-happy' doctor. A colleague asked me this morning how my interregnum was going. It sent me into a momentary panic. Is it treatable I … Continue reading Flying in the face of an interregnum
A 'silver cloud' with a dark lining? – medical research charities in the recession
I suspect you may have seen the bleak forecast made by charity chief executives in the latest National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) survey published today. 97% of those surveyed said they expected economic conditions to be negative and 55% advised that they would be reducing their staff. Tough times indeed. And so this seems an opportune moment … Continue reading A 'silver cloud' with a dark lining? – medical research charities in the recession
NHS reforms, research and 'localism'
I really would encourage you to read this morning's article in The Guardian about the impact of the NHS reforms on doctor expertise and research. Its the first article that I've seen thus far which really conveys the message about health research that AMRC has been trying to put across and on which we anticipate stepping up … Continue reading NHS reforms, research and 'localism'
Second Reading of the Health and Social Care Bill: An open letter to MPs
Dear Member of Parliament, This afternoon the Health and Social Care Bill will recieve its Second Reading in the House of Commons. The legislation sets out a far-reaching programme for reforming the NHS and the provision of patient care. The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and its 127 member charities believe that high quality … Continue reading Second Reading of the Health and Social Care Bill: An open letter to MPs
Health and social care reforms on trial
What better starting point for today's blog than the comments of two leading clinicians speaking about the importance of clinical trials to patient outcomes. First, Dr Duncan Wheatley, a Clinical Oncologist and Lead for Research in the South West Peninsula, who is quoted in a BBC Cornwall story today about medical research at the Royal … Continue reading Health and social care reforms on trial
Making the EU work better for research charities
On the face of it you might think this a very Friday afternoon sort of article. But, as a discussion of how European foundations operate in a research funding context, it is is extremely interesting. The news peg for it is that plans are afoot by the European Commission to present a regulation for a European Foundation … Continue reading Making the EU work better for research charities
Getting touchy over the information revolution
Over the holidays I caught a BBC Radio 4 item about the days of the touch typist. It was one of those gems of broadcasting which looked through a narrow lens to tell the listener much about how the world has changed. It also brought back many memories of my time as a messenger at the old … Continue reading Getting touchy over the information revolution
Rawlins Review: Academy lays down law on health research regulation
Over the weekend Professor Colin Blakemore said he hoped the Academy of Medical Sciences would come up with radical proposals to end the regulatory mess that holds up UK health research such as clinical trials. I am not sure whether he will feel today's report by the Academy lives up to that aspiration, but I do … Continue reading Rawlins Review: Academy lays down law on health research regulation
What do patients want from health research regulation?
In a blog 'exclusive' - albeit more by technical chance than design - I am today sharing with you the independent report of the AMRC/INVOLVE patient workshop on health research regulation that took part in early November. We were invited to undertake this important piece of work by the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) as … Continue reading What do patients want from health research regulation?
The legacy of medical research
...and another thing. Two weeks ago I blogged about the CAF/NCVO UK Giving report which showed that medical research topped the causes to which the British public gave money. Well, today, the results of an AA/Populus poll of its 18,000 members have been published showing that of those people planning to leave a legacy to charity, … Continue reading The legacy of medical research
UKCMRI Gets Go-ahead…and news on CST
Those who visit this blog regularly will know that we've been following progress with the plans to build the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation in London ever since our first post. So, in what feels like an early Christmas present for science, it is good to be able to report that yesterday Camden Town Hall … Continue reading UKCMRI Gets Go-ahead…and news on CST
Times Letter on Charity Research Support Fund (CRSF)
A brief but important mention of the letter in today's Times signed by over 100 cancer scientists and doctors. The letter cites Breast Cancer Campaign (an AMRC member) and highlights the importance of the Government-backed Charity Research Support Fund (CRSF) to the funding of research in universities by medical research charities. If you want a succinct but well-articulated case for … Continue reading Times Letter on Charity Research Support Fund (CRSF)
NHS white paper next steps
Some of you may know that today was being dubbed 'Super Wednesday' by some because today is the day that the Department of Health has set out its response to the consultation on the NHS White Paper 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS.' The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has very helpfully published an … Continue reading NHS white paper next steps
Simon Denegri's Lay Review 