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
INVOLVE
Health Research Authority (HRA) commits to public involvement from day one
The Health Research Authority (HRA) has published the plan for what it will be up too in the months leading up to March 2012. Really pleased to see a commitment under the Governance section (para 3.3) to develop a comprehensive plan for public and patient involvement. You'll see the statement mentions working with both INVOLVE and AMRC … Continue reading Health Research Authority (HRA) commits to public involvement from day one
Patients, ethics committees and clinical research – NRES/INVOLVE report highlights ‘public’ challenge for new health research regulator (HRA)
Sometimes you are just defeated by the brilliance of others. So, if you are looking for a wonderful summary of what the autumn statement means for health research, then I can highly recommend Becky's Policy Pages. Clearly, the opening up of health data is the single most important strategic announcement in today's statement - much … Continue reading Patients, ethics committees and clinical research – NRES/INVOLVE report highlights ‘public’ challenge for new health research regulator (HRA)
Why Georgia is an example to us all on clinical trials
This is a piece I spotted in the local press in Wirral about schoolgirl, Georgia Semple, who is a member of the Young People's Advisory Group for the NIHR Medicines for Children Research Network (MCRN). The Group helps with the design of clinical research - from conveying their views and concerns to researchers, to writing … Continue reading Why Georgia is an example to us all on clinical trials
Canada gets the ‘patient involvement in research’ bug
A few weeks ago I mentioned meeting the Director of the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) to discuss public involvement in research. Last night I stumbled on the following announcement by the Canadian Government about the development of a patient-orientated research strategy. Excellent news. I am sure the news has very little to do … Continue reading Canada gets the ‘patient involvement in research’ bug
INVOLVE membership drive – help shape the future of public involvement in UK research
Passion more than duty prevails upon me to post details of INVOLVE's search for new members. As you may know I have recently taken over as Chair of INVOLVE. Just follow the links below . Copy as follows....... Would you like to get involved with INVOLVE? We are looking for new members. INVOLVE has a … Continue reading INVOLVE membership drive – help shape the future of public involvement in UK research
Exortic science goes kryptonite, perhaps
Today's headline is taken from the menu for my Indian take away last night which talked of 'exortic sauces.' A spelling mistake it might be but I was rather taken with the idea of my curry sauce exorting me to savour its spices. In a similar fashion do I feel the desire to devour all … Continue reading Exortic science goes kryptonite, perhaps
Ridding ourselves of the 'red tape' worm
If you believe the Government - any Government in fact - we are all entangled in webbing made of regulation red tape that makes us look like one of those mummies emerging from a tomb in a 60s Hanna Barbara cartoon. However, I can't help but agree on this occasion. I don't know about you, … Continue reading Ridding ourselves of the 'red tape' worm
Rawlins Review: Academy lays down law on health research regulation
Over the weekend Professor Colin Blakemore said he hoped the Academy of Medical Sciences would come up with radical proposals to end the regulatory mess that holds up UK health research such as clinical trials. I am not sure whether he will feel today's report by the Academy lives up to that aspiration, but I do … Continue reading Rawlins Review: Academy lays down law on health research regulation
Regulating research – Blakemore/Deer comment pieces + AMRC background
Ahead of next week's Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) much anticipated report on medical research regulation I see The Times and Sunday Times (both paywall) have published pieces this weekend by scientist Professor Colin Blakemore and journalist Brian Deer respectively, offering different perspectives on the issue of regulation. If you are looking for further background on … Continue reading Regulating research – Blakemore/Deer comment pieces + AMRC background
What do patients want from health research regulation?
In a blog 'exclusive' - albeit more by technical chance than design - I am today sharing with you the independent report of the AMRC/INVOLVE patient workshop on health research regulation that took part in early November. We were invited to undertake this important piece of work by the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) as … Continue reading What do patients want from health research regulation?
User involvement in research – drive your own train
I am at the INVOLVE two-day conference in Nottingham this week. INVOLVE is the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded programme promoting public involvement in research. It is perhaps worth adding that INVOLVE is the only publicly funded national organisation of its kind across the world. It's a packed conference - almost 500 delegates … Continue reading User involvement in research – drive your own train
'A nation of General Practitioners' and other bits of philosophising
The news earlier this week that the National Institute of Clinicial and Health Excellence (NICE) is to lose its powers for deciding which drugs should be made available on the NHS (to be replaced by a new system based around GP commissioning) brought an alternative version of Adam Smith's remarks about shopkeepers to mind: "To found a … Continue reading 'A nation of General Practitioners' and other bits of philosophising
A Wellcome round-up to the research week
While the Home Office struggles to recover from its Nutt allergy the rest of us have been busy funding and promoting good science. Our communications officer, Sara, tells me that if I use more searchable terms in my blog headlines I will get more visitors. 'What, more than the million or so I receive each day?' I said. Anyway, … Continue reading A Wellcome round-up to the research week
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