It is said that when Robert Sherman sat down to write 'A Spoonful of Sugar' he was inspired by his children's tale of being given their polio vaccine on a sugar cube. The iconic song from Mary Poppins, lyrically captures a moment in time when the relationship between society, medicine and research was a more … Continue reading Mary Poppins no longer has the answers in medicine – for either doctor or patient
Chief Medical Officer
We need to get personal about ‘antibiotic resistance’ if we want the public to help fight infection @wellcometrust
The Wellcome Trust have this morning put out the results of a very interesting study about public understanding of antibiotic resistance. The research by Good Business found that people struggle with what the term 'antibiotic resistance' means, and are more comfortable with alternative terms such as “drug-resistant infections” or “antibiotic-resistant germs." Also that, because of the … Continue reading We need to get personal about ‘antibiotic resistance’ if we want the public to help fight infection @wellcometrust
It’s out! Report of GenR young people in health research event presented to CMO
Yesterday I joined colleagues from the Medicines for Children Research Network (MCRN) to present the report of the Generation R event last year, to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Professor Dame Sally Davies. For many people Generation R at the Science Museum was the highlight of 2013. It was designed, organised and delivered by young … Continue reading It’s out! Report of GenR young people in health research event presented to CMO
CMO as good as her word on young people’s involvement in research
The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies, published her annual report today. Actually, it's two reports. The first is the usual state of the nation summary of the population's coughs and splutters. The second, uniquely this year, looks in depth at the worrying lack of attention we have paid to young people's health. It's … Continue reading CMO as good as her word on young people’s involvement in research
Generation R event: young people in research storm the barricades of science
What was it that the author, William Golding, said when asked if he went to church? 'No I don't, and I don't think God does either.' I feel the same about medical research conferences. They often seem to be places where people go to worship the science rather than what it can do for people. … Continue reading Generation R event: young people in research storm the barricades of science
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
Thoughts on public involvement, participation and engagement in research…from Denmark
Those of you who follow me on twitter (and you can do so by clicking on the twitter symbol on the blog), will know that, earlier this week, I was tweeting from Copenhagen in Denmark. Myself and Derek Stewart, Associate Director for PPI at NIHR CRN CC, were there to help launch the Danish Health … Continue reading Thoughts on public involvement, participation and engagement in research…from Denmark
The Academy reports on research regulation…and a reminder of the Guardian’s Q&A about public involvement
The Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) today published its report of the meeting it held a few months ago, looking at progress with improving the regulatory of environment for medical research. I blogged about being a panellist at the meeting as you may recall. The report's conclusions are noteworthy for the second bullet point about public … Continue reading The Academy reports on research regulation…and a reminder of the Guardian’s Q&A about public involvement
Dame Sally Davies interview in the FT
Dame Sally Davies, England's new Chief Medical Officer, gives a frank and open interview in today's Financial Times. In it, Dame Sally says that she will continue to play a leadership role with respect to NHS R&D but with perhaps less involvement in the day-to-day running (my interpretation).
A fillip for rare diseases
It has been one of those weeks! But I got a bit of a fillip with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Sir Liam Donaldson's, annual report on Tuesday. Apart from being a good read, the CMO's annual address on the state of the nation's health can give voice and momentum to an issue within the Department … Continue reading A fillip for rare diseases
Simon Denegri's Lay Review 