The following was sent to Rare Disease UK members and I thought I should pass it on as it explains what is happening and how you can get involved this year. All except the first link won't work as I am mobile but the first URL address will take you to where all this stuff is … Continue reading Details about ‘Rare Disease Day’ of Action – 28th Feb 2013
medical research
Prof Dame Sally Davies (CMO) talks about science communications, the media and public involvement
Rather than just tweet this as a link, I thought some background was needed. This is a ten minute extract of a much longer interview I did with Professor Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Officer at the Department of Health. The interview came at the beginning of a two-day NIHR training camp … Continue reading Prof Dame Sally Davies (CMO) talks about science communications, the media and public involvement
What year is it in public engagement in science? 1832 perhaps?
I find myself on another train. This time, returning from Bristol where the 'Engage' conference - run by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) is being held. In a nutshell NCCPE brings together the university sector. I was taking part in a morning workshop about what we have learnt from two decades of … Continue reading What year is it in public engagement in science? 1832 perhaps?
Novartis’ chocolate teapot arguments
According to the Daily Telegraph, Swiss drug company, Novartis, yesterday called a crisis meeting in London of its top execs, medical leaders and others. The Science Minister, David Willetts, was due to attend we are told. What was the purpose of this meeting? To read us all the riot act about the state of UK … Continue reading Novartis’ chocolate teapot arguments
Healthtalkonline looking for people to talk about their experiences of patient and public involvement
Healthtalkonline is looking for volunteers to be interviewed about their experiences of patient public involvement in research design and delivery. Flyer with contact details below.
How do your taxes and donations get used to fund health research?
Today the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) has published its UK Health Research Analysis: http://www.ukcrc.org/ukcrc-health-research-analysis-2012/ The report shows spending by the 12 publicly funded health research bodies - including the largest charities such as Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK, BHF and Arthritis Research UK - in 2009/10. This is the second analysis to be published, … Continue reading How do your taxes and donations get used to fund health research?
Diabetes and cancer network reports on engaging people about clinical research and more…
My thanks to the Diabetes Research Network (DRN) for sending me their report 'Improving public awareness of clinical research.' Clinical research networks are at the 'front-line' in terms of encouraging people to take part in research and this report gives a good insight into some of the tools and strategies used by DRN. Others trying to … Continue reading Diabetes and cancer network reports on engaging people about clinical research and more…
And people wonder why we are so passionate about public involvement
There are a few minutes until I catch my train. It is just enough time to draw your attention to this excellent piece in the BMJ written by a patient, Matilda Hale, about her battle with fatigue as a result of liver disease, the complacency of the medical profession and the support she gained from … Continue reading And people wonder why we are so passionate about public involvement
Friday musings about tsars, conferences and stratified medicines
Today I started to think about the forthcoming INVOLVE national conference. More particularly, what I want to say to this important gathering in less than a month's time. This will be my first conference since taking over as Chair in June 2011 and, since then of course, I have also taken on the new National … Continue reading Friday musings about tsars, conferences and stratified medicines
GSK’s Witty remarks are easy to swallow from a patient perspective but the rest of the flock must follow
I spoke at the Clinical Discovery 2012 conference yesterday about the future value and impact of clinical research. This is one of a number of similar events I've presented at over the last month or so. On reflection there generally seems a more 'upbeat' conversation among conference-goers about clinical research in the UK compared to this time last … Continue reading GSK’s Witty remarks are easy to swallow from a patient perspective but the rest of the flock must follow
If NZ can do this why can’t we?
I get the feeling that this might not go down well. But I noticed this on the 'wires' this evening and you really have to say: 'why not?' The New Zealand Government is launching a $1million advertising campaign next month in which the public will be asked to help identify the scientific challenges which should … Continue reading If NZ can do this why can’t we?
We don’t do duvets: patient choice and clinical trials
Younger readers will remember a regular skit from the BBC's Saturday morning children's tv show some years ago in which the week's special guest would enter Trevor and Simon's laundrette and ask if they do duvets. 'We don't do duvets' Trevor and Simon would reply along with the studio audience. You could say that a … Continue reading We don’t do duvets: patient choice and clinical trials
A few distant musings about the cancer telethon ‘Stand up to Cancer’
The term 'telethon' sounds almost antiquated in an era when social media is in the ascendancy doesn't it? But Cancer Research UK/Channel 4's 'Stand up to cancer' telethon demonstrates that television still has the biggest muscle in drawing together a mass audience at a given time, in a given place and for a given cause. … Continue reading A few distant musings about the cancer telethon ‘Stand up to Cancer’
PM’s Global Health Policy Summit Speech signals the personal as well as phenomenal
You can find the full text of the Prime Minister's speech at the Global Health Policy Summit in London today here. David Cameron's remarks have caught the headlines because of his announcement about the new Phenome Centre. But, as important, are a number of other areas of his speech. These deal with the importance of the … Continue reading PM’s Global Health Policy Summit Speech signals the personal as well as phenomenal
Caldicott 2 public evidence sessions
If you are looking for Olympics-mayhem avoidance strategies then what better than taking the opportunity to share your views on Information Governance. My good colleagues at INVOLVE have reminded me to remind you, that Caldicott's remaining public workshops will take place on 8 August in Birmingham and on 22 August in Oxford. The one in Leeds today was … Continue reading Caldicott 2 public evidence sessions
There is no point to the javelin
It has come to this. The world's top tennis players rush their shots to beat an 11pm curfew. Bruce and Sir Paul are turned-off mid-performance. And they don't use real javelins in schools. Looking across the the athletics field at my sons' school sports day, I spied a clutch of children competing in the javelin. Except this … Continue reading There is no point to the javelin
The NHS Commissioning Board Draft Mandate and patients in health research
The Shard went up (officially). And the NHS Commissioning Board Draft Mandate came down from on high. All on the same day. Add the odd torrential downpour with its associated misery and these could be Biblical times. I have come to the conclusion that it is my fate to be locked away somewhere remote and with an intermittent … Continue reading The NHS Commissioning Board Draft Mandate and patients in health research
The life sciences, the public and the growth agenda…its not just about bums on seats
This is an extract from a talk I gave on Monday to the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Newcastle. I tried to answer the following question: The life sciences are seen as fundamental to the nation’s health and to economic growth. But what is the public’s role in making this happen? The … Continue reading The life sciences, the public and the growth agenda…its not just about bums on seats
Have we pushed pharma too far away?
I must confess, the idea of a 'breakfast roundtable' discussion is about as appealing to me as hoovering. Come to think of it the two activities are not unrelated. For roundtables are really an opportunity for the host to hoover up lots of comments and ideas. My sympathy always goes to the poor person who … Continue reading Have we pushed pharma too far away?
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