Given the debate and the importance of this issue in the coming year, here is a photo of the leaflet 'Your health records save lives' on the leaflet rack at my GP surgery.
medical research
BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Report’ looks at whether the UK can be a world leader in clinical trials
Airing tomorrow (Thursday 22nd December) at 8pm on BBC Radio 4 , investigative reporter, Simon Cox, looks at whether the UK can be a leader in clinical trials.
Stem-cell network closure feels premature and short-sighted
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 … Continue reading Stem-cell network closure feels premature and short-sighted
Index on Censorship data debate report and video
You can read a report of last week's Index on Censorship's debate about data starring Mark Walport and Baroness O'Neill among others, here. You can also see a video of the debate on their Facebook site but, of course, you'll have to sign-in to Facebook first. One can onlyhope they informed everyone first and this is not some sort of clandestine CCTV … Continue reading Index on Censorship data debate report and video
Winston: Never has so little, been done by so many in Government on public engagement in science
Says Winston ('Lord' that is, not Churchill). Saw this interview on the Energy and Environment Managementwebsite and thought it worth posting because of Robert Winston's criticism of the Government's approach to public engagement in science. It consists of two video interviews although you can get a sense of the major points of the interview from … Continue reading Winston: Never has so little, been done by so many in Government on public engagement in science
Cancer voices in medical and health research
I have been meaning to post this for a little while but have been waiting for a break in the action. Just wanted to pass on this excellent publication from independent cancer patients' voices entitled: 'Yearbook 1: Opening the Conversation - A Record of Achievement 2009-2011.' Those designing and writing annual reports might also learn … Continue reading Cancer voices in medical and health research
Dear David Cameron, being a ‘research patient’ is one thing, it’s being a ‘research citizen’ that interests us more
Wall-to-wall coverage of the Prime Minister's speech yesterday about life sciences and putting the NHS at the heart of innovation. All a bit frustrating therefore, that the full transcript of his speech is not yet available on the No 10 website as far as I can seen. The BBC has by far the best overview … Continue reading Dear David Cameron, being a ‘research patient’ is one thing, it’s being a ‘research citizen’ that interests us more
The Government’s life sciences announcement and the debate on patient data
There is much to absorb us all in today's speech by the Prime Minister, David Cameron, on life sciences and the associated package of intiiatives he has announced to boost medical research. The headline contents of what has become known over the last few months as the 'life sciences' package were being widely trailed and … Continue reading The Government’s life sciences announcement and the debate on patient data
Pinch, punch, first day….of the Health Research Authority (HRA)
HRA is established today as a Special Health Authority. I believe further details will be published a bit later and I'll post them here accordingly. But you might want to keep checking the website of the National Research Ethics Service (NRES). 'Anon,' as the bard used to say.
Ruby Wax on mental health – now updated with link.
Just thought I'd mention that Ruby Wax is being interviewed this morning about depression on Woman's Hour - the best bit of BBC Radio 4 programming by a long chalk. I remember hearing her talk about her battle with depression at a No10 reception for mental health research two or three years ago. It made … Continue reading Ruby Wax on mental health – now updated with link.
Has Age UK lost the research mojo?
An article by Anjana Ahuja in The Observer the weekend before last, examined the dispute that has arisen over the new funding guidelines that Age UK has issued for its scientific grants programme. A range of leading scientist in the field of ageing including Professor Richard Faragher, Chair of the British Society for Research on … Continue reading Has Age UK lost the research mojo?
Slicing up the medical research charity sector in graphic terms…and an ‘uksome’ trend in rebranding
I meant to post this last week. People quite often ask me about the composition of the UK medical research charity sector in terms of number of charities and their size as regards the amount they fund Well, two weeks ago the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) held their AGM and, with it published … Continue reading Slicing up the medical research charity sector in graphic terms…and an ‘uksome’ trend in rebranding
‘Your health records saves lives leaflet’…now available here
Here's hoping this works. So, (sorry John Humphries et al) rather than send you all off somewhere else, here is the pdf of the whole patient information leaflet 'Your health records saves lives' which I wrote about yesterday. Click here: PHR LIFT England online As I say, please pass it on...for me. And you can … Continue reading ‘Your health records saves lives leaflet’…now available here
Available in all good GP surgeries – new patient information leaflet on the use of patient data for research
This leaflet 'Your health records saves lives' (click on the picture below) marks the fruits of much hard work by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) partnership over two years. Conceived, designed and written with patients very much as partners in the process, it seeks to explain how patient data is used for research purposes. … Continue reading Available in all good GP surgeries – new patient information leaflet on the use of patient data for research
Why not turn off your tv set and try your hand at some surgery research
This may not post very well as I am on my mobile. But passing on as it may be of interest. NIHR Workshop on Surgery Research Researcher Briefing Event Thursday 9 February 2012 The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) commissions leading-edge scientific research focused on improving the health and wealth of the nation. NIHR … Continue reading Why not turn off your tv set and try your hand at some surgery research
NHS research culture awards
Given my post yesterday I am delighted to congratulate Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust on winning the Health Service Journal's (HSJ) first ever research culture award last night. The full list of winners and highly commendeds is as follows: Winner: Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust Highly Commended: Portsmouth Hospitals … Continue reading NHS research culture awards
Washington Post coverage of Geron halting its stem cell trial on spinal cord injury
Lots in the papers this morning about the US company, Geron, halting its stem cell study on spinal cord injury. I thought I would share this coverage from the Washington Post. Geron's decision highlights a lot of interesting issues around science funding.. ..the long-term nature of science ...the difficulties for the private sector in keeping … Continue reading Washington Post coverage of Geron halting its stem cell trial on spinal cord injury
You cluster if you want to…the single most important translational gap in UK clinical research today
A colleague of mine put up two slides at a meeting today which neatly encapsulated for me the key strategic - perhaps translational gap - in uk clinical research right now. On the demand side, the first showed the key results from the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) commissioned MORI poll of public attitudes … Continue reading You cluster if you want to…the single most important translational gap in UK clinical research today
It’s wishful thinking by Sir Paul Nurse – science has no right to be left alone by politicians or the public
Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society and head of he Sir Francis Crick Institute, is doing a round of media interviews at the moment. Last week he was in the Daily Telegraph and claimed that the 'Crick' institute was going to be the mothership of all inventions - in every sense of the … Continue reading It’s wishful thinking by Sir Paul Nurse – science has no right to be left alone by politicians or the public
Uncensoring science – Index on Censorship puts science in the spotlight
Just flagging up that Index on Censorship is devoting the next issue of its magazine to transparency and openness in science. They are also holding a debate on the evening of 6th December with, and at, Imperial College. Great line-up. You can also download their app and get a 30 day free trial.And, no, I … Continue reading Uncensoring science – Index on Censorship puts science in the spotlight
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