Today's MS stem cell story is running on the front page of today's hard copy edition of the London Evening Standard because of the strong London connection. So I thought I'd post it here. Well done to colleagues at the MS Society who have helped fund this work. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23974245-new-stem-cell-treatment-hope-for-ms-sufferers.do
Public attitudes to science survey 2011
Welcome back to those of you who left the rest of us to run the country for two weeks. I must say that I spent the Bank Holiday weekend in a verily good mood having had a quick peek at the results of our annual member survey. This showed that 98% of our members say... Continue Reading →
Science and the budget, peer review and a spot of crowd-sourcing
Tomorrow is Budget day. Having just finished AMRC's own budget and business plan for 2011-2012 all I can say is: George you know where I am if you want to crunch some last minute numbers? The Financial Times is reporting today that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce a £100million cash injection for capital... Continue Reading →
Stem cell research and charities
The world has gone consultation mad. Another two dropped into my inbox yesterday. I'm seriously considering booking myself into consultation rehab. A few days off next week will at least allow me to undergo an intensive consultation detox programme in the meantime. For those of you who have set aside today to write a response to... Continue Reading →
CSR and painting by numbers
We are packing up. No, no, no, not in that sense. It is just that we are moving office in a few weeks. I am ashamed to say that I am the last of our team to begin the task of separating the recently aquired detritus from the must-keep documents that tell something of our history. ... Continue Reading →
AMRC Responds to NHS White Paper 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS'
A quick post to say that we have today posted our comments on the NHS White Paper on our website. Our response is the first-listed on the consultations page for 2010 here. If you want to get some idea of the Department of Health perspective on the issues we raise you might like to read... Continue Reading →
Science at the Conservative Party Conference – avoiding the herd mentality
I read in the Birmingham local press that about 14,000 people are expected at the Conservative Party Conference. It certainly seems busier than the preceding two, even on a Sunday evening. Each conference has its own feel but common to them all is the herd of grey-suited buffalo (including myself I suppose) that migrates from one... Continue Reading →
Science at the Labour Party Conference – a Miller's tale
Rumour has it that there is an outbreak of tonsilitis in the north-west at the moment...here's hoping Ed Milliband is being kept in isolation until his leader's speech this afternoon. One thing I forgot to mention from last night's meeting was David Lammy's comment that the coalition government has yet to put together a convincing narrative for... Continue Reading →
Science at Labour Party Conference – Vital Signs
First, a general observation. Less than one day here and I have met four 'Eds' already - more than in the previous ten years travelling the breadth of the UK. Strange that. But perhaps when you are faced by David Willetts you need as many 'Eds' as you can get. I came expecting a muted,... Continue Reading →
Brain drain in science story
You may have heard the news headlines this morning about the House of Lords Science & Technology Committee letter to the Science Minister, David Willetts, expressing fears about a brain drain of scientists from the UK to other countries. Reasons include people's growing concern over possible cuts in science funding and what it could mean for... Continue Reading →
Science at the Lib Dem conference – patients hold their nerve for research
'Hold your nerve' was the message to his party from Nick Clegg yesterday. Well, this evening patients and their carers held their nerve by standing in front of conference delegates to tell their personal stories of fighting disease and the way research has helped, or could help, them. In fact if you happen to be... Continue Reading →
Science at the Lib Dem Conference – Life Sciences Breakfast
Policy-making is not immune to trends. The latest seems to be the 'roundtable' meeting. I blame King Arthur myself (well, they say that trends do come round). But I bet he didn't meet his knights at 9 or 8am. This morning AMRC, the BioIndustry Association, Association of British Healthcare Industries and Association of the British... Continue Reading →
Venture capitalists weigh in on science funding debate
I spoke at an interesting event last week organised by OneNucleus, a membership organisation which brings together international life science and healthcare companies. The audience was packed with representatives of both large and small companies including many biotechs. It was the day before Vince Cable's speech and much concern about what he would or would not... Continue Reading →
Science in a near miss with Cable but flies on…to Birmingham and China perhaps
I feel I must dedicate this blog to the gentleman who posted an online comment in response to my letter in The Times yesterday, saying it caused him 'metaphor indigestion.' I could almost hear the indefatigable voice of my English teacher, the late Brian Mitchell, behind every word.* So....like the Red Arrows at one of... Continue Reading →
Cable and Willetts in show of dual support
I did warn you that things would really get going this week....and with two speeches in as many days you can be forgiven if you feel as if you have taken a left hook and then a right hook in quick succession. Science Minister, David Willetts, was on the stump at a Universities UK conference today. He used... Continue Reading →
JK Rowling and Donation to Multiple Sclerosis research
There has been blanket coverage of JK Rowling's £10 million donation to set-up a new research clinic at the Edinburgh Centre for Translational Research and quite right too. The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, named after her mother who had MS, will investigate treatments to slow the progression, and ultimately reverse, the symptoms of MS but will also undertake... Continue Reading →
Sunshine, stem cells and policy hypochondria over the NHS
It has been a busy 24 hours in medical research. Beginning with the sunnier side of things, I am sure few of you will have esacaped the wall-to-wall coverage of the study published yesterday showing Vitamin D exerts an influence over certain genes associated with diseases like multiple sclerosis and arthritis. The research is notable for its... Continue Reading →
Further thoughts on a single regulator for research
Mid-summer it might be, but my sense is that the prospect of a single regulator for research continues to be the leading topic of debate around and about the community (after the Comprehensive Spending Review of course). My office brought to my attention this series of comment pieces about a single regulator and its impact... Continue Reading →
Research and democracy
The best kept secret in London during August is London itself. With what seems like millions of Londoners and commuters away on holiday, the streets are clear, the buses and trains are sitting-room only, and you can find a parking space with relative ease. The city becomes just that little bit more civilised for four... Continue Reading →
A new research regulator – Academy calls for evidence
On the train home tonight when an email came through announcing a second call for evidence by the Academy of Medical Sciences as part of its independent review of medical research regulation. This call for evidence focuses on the Department of Health review of arms-length bodies and particularly the pros and cons of a new research... Continue Reading →
