One of my highlights of last year was judging the 'Access to Understanding' science writing competition. And I didn't event win it! Well, the good news is that it's happening again and the 2014 competition was launched this morning. The less good news perhaps - from the point of view of entrants anyway - is … Continue reading Pens and PCs to the ready: 2014 Access to Understanding science writing competition is launched
Mark Walport
Comment piece: New mental health research charity springs from an unlikely quarter #mentalhealth
It has been in the works for a not inconsiderable amount of time. A slow burner if you like. So it somehow seems fitting that the first flames should flicker almost unnoticed. Yesterday, Research Fortnight's Adam Smith wrote about a new mental health research charity to be launched next year with a hefty £20 million … Continue reading Comment piece: New mental health research charity springs from an unlikely quarter #mentalhealth
Y’All: I still don’t really know what the BIS Science and Society strategy is about, do you?
I've been meaning to post this ever since it came across my Twitter feed some weeks ago. If you go on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Science and Society Strategy pages you'll see that they have published updated action plans for each of the 'Expert Groups' set up in 2010. These groups were tasked to … Continue reading Y’All: I still don’t really know what the BIS Science and Society strategy is about, do you?
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
Flying in the face of an interregnum
As a self-confessed member of the worried well, I ask that people think carefully before they throw strange words at me. Particularly on the day of a regular visit to my 'prescription-happy' doctor. A colleague asked me this morning how my interregnum was going. It sent me into a momentary panic. Is it treatable I … Continue reading Flying in the face of an interregnum
International clinical trials day and a bit of mopping-up
It is International Clinical Trials Day today and The Cochrane Library has worked with the UK Medical Research Council's Network of Hubs for Trials Methodology Research to produce a set of new podcasts about clinical trials - well worth a listen. There was a conference in Vienna this morning organised by the European Clinical Research … Continue reading International clinical trials day and a bit of mopping-up
What defines medical research charities?
It normally grates on me when someone makes passing reference to football or their favourite team in search of the common touch. So forgive me for doing the same just this once. It does serve a purpose.....of sorts. I am sure that those familiar with football punditry - and even those who are not - will have … Continue reading What defines medical research charities?
Simon Denegri's Lay Review 