It is no surprise that, in death as in life, Nelson Mandela has caused us to gaze upon humanity with warmth and optimism. I am sure I am not alone in having taken a great deal of pleasure from reading the celebrations of his life and reflecting on how different tomorrow would look were it not … Continue reading A nod to Nelson Mandela on the eve of the G8 Dementia Summit (agenda published)
BBC
Lock up your charity CEO the Daily Telegraph is coming
The best advice I can give charity Boards of Trustees today is: lock up your chief executive because the Daily Telegraph is after them. The newspaper known for its successful probing of MP pay and expenses is now taking aim at charity CEOs. Specifically it has gone for the heads of the charities that make … Continue reading Lock up your charity CEO the Daily Telegraph is coming
Holby City leaves transplant facts behind in search of medical drama, but why?
Nine in ten of us watch the TV at least once a week. The living room is the place where we most like to sit in front of 'the box.' And the majority of the programmes we view constitute live television. So found OFCOM in its latest research of people's media habits published two weeks … Continue reading Holby City leaves transplant facts behind in search of medical drama, but why?
Blog: We have the public to thank for this week’s well-informed decisions in health research
We have had two pieces of good news about health research of patient benefit this week. First, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issued new guidance saying that tamoxifen or raloxifene taken daily for five years can cut breast cancer risk by 40%. This means women at risk of developing breast cancer have … Continue reading Blog: We have the public to thank for this week’s well-informed decisions in health research
From analogue to digital patients – or how to avoid being trapped in the ‘mash-up’
If I didn't know from all the media coverage that the digital switchover was taking place in London today, then I would only have to look over my back fence into Crystal Palace Park to see them preparing for the laser show tonight at the Crystal Palace Tower. It explains the weeks of helicopters hovering … Continue reading From analogue to digital patients – or how to avoid being trapped in the ‘mash-up’
Obama goes troubleshooting on clinical trials
Is it me or does anyone else think that No 10 could have perhaps chosen more wisely its choice of title for the new army of individuals who David Cameron says will help 'trouble' families: 'troubleshooters' doesn't sound quite right? This only a week after No 10 made a complete hash of the 24 hours … Continue reading Obama goes troubleshooting on clinical trials
Some reflections on the vCJD blood test story
The BBC's Fergus Walsh wrote an excellent blog this week about the prototype blood test for vCJD (Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease). But there is another story implicit behind it that is worth telling - what has been achieved through the fortitude of patients and scientists working together in the face of insurmountable odds. I can not do justice … Continue reading Some reflections on the vCJD blood test story
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 Cable and Willetts in show of dual support
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 Further thoughts on a single regulator for research
Osborne on economic growth
Various reports are flashing across the wires right now concerning the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne's, speech at Bloomberg's offices in London today. The following is from BBC News. You can read the full text on the HM Treasury website here. Which begs the question why it takes the Department of Health … Continue reading Osborne on economic growth
The 'new' philanthropy and medical research
Last night I was contemplating how to make the remaining half of my net-worth last for the rest of the month, when thoughts inevitably turned to the announcement by 30 US billionaires last week that they intend to give at least half their wealth to charitable causes. The charge of the billionaires is being led … Continue reading The 'new' philanthropy and medical research
Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR)
I originally intended this to be a politics free blog for once. But such is life. Today we put in our submission on the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) which you can find on our website. I see there was some coverage of the Royal Society's own submission in this morning's papers. Many of the messages … Continue reading Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR)
Willetts wants to cut loose science and go for growth
The Science Minister, David Willetts, was in thoughtful rather than visionary mode at the Royal Institution this morning I felt. The old hands among you will know by now that a Ministerial speech headlined as 'a vision' rarely lives up to its billing. But let's not mark him down on this. On science as in … Continue reading Willetts wants to cut loose science and go for growth
Medical research and children
I missed this very good viewpoint article on the BBC News website yesterday by Professor Neena Modi, Vice-President for Science and Research at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Professor Modi argues that children and parents are being denied the benefits of clinical research and that until we undertake more clinical studies involving children they … Continue reading Medical research and children
Andrew Lansley Speeches, Office for Life Sciences etc
For those just joining us....there is a brief report on Lansley's speech on the BMA conference website. The headline is 'Lansley promises NHS power to doctors' and I feel almost compelled to put 'Discuss' after it. The BMA piece details Lansley's 5 Ps or priorities for the NHS. Another piece running on the Press Association … Continue reading Andrew Lansley Speeches, Office for Life Sciences etc
NICE announcement on anti-TNF therapy
Today's guidelines by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to widen access to anti-TNF drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has been widely welcomed by patient groups and medical research charities such as Arthritis Research UK. Those digging further into the story may be interested to know that it was researchers … Continue reading NICE announcement on anti-TNF therapy
Universities and Research
A quick post in support of this week's campaign by Universities UK called 'What's the Big Idea?' and highlighting 'the essential role of universities in the UK and their impact on the economy, culture, society, the environment and much more.' There is both a campaign website here, and a Facebook site with some fun celebrity stuff … Continue reading Universities and Research
The Budget
This being Budget day, I couldn't help but feel that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alastair Darling, must have woken this morning and felt some empathy with the dung beetle with whom he was sharing the news headlines. Those who missed this particular item on the BBC will want to know that, after months of study, the … Continue reading The Budget
Not another article about partnership
The term 'partnership' is now scattered liberally through the narrative we all use for the way in which we work - either as organisations or as individuals. The highly inventive among us occasionally substitute it with 'collaboration' or even the more arcane 'working together,' but partnership is in the ascendant in every sense. But I am beginning to … Continue reading Not another article about partnership
Simon Denegri's Lay Review 