I do try to live up to my Tunbridge Wells postcode by firing off regular 'disgusted' letters to the press and, in particular, The Daily Telegraph (DT). On Monday Erik Nordkamp, Pfizer's Managing Director, wrote this article about the importance of the life sciences industry to a post-Brexit economic strategy. So I sent this to … Continue reading Patients and the public are vital to science’s role in a post #Brexit Britain. A response to Pfizer’s MD, Erik Nordkamp
Pfizer
Thoughts on some of the latest health research stories in the media
I hope you have had a good Easter weekend. There have been three health research stories in the last week that have caught my attention. Each story is significant in its own right. But they also share a common theme around the importance of public participation in research. First up is the research published by King's College … Continue reading Thoughts on some of the latest health research stories in the media
PLoS ONE study – I’d go further: poor quality information undermines rights of clinical trial participants
On my recent visit to Newcastle, my afternoon was spent talking to, and answering questions from, the public about research. Clinical trials featured heavily. The most common theme was their frustration over the poor quality information given to trial participants before, during and after a trial had finished. The journal, PloS ONE, has today published a … Continue reading PLoS ONE study – I’d go further: poor quality information undermines rights of clinical trial participants
Pfizer undaunted by social media hurdles in clinical trial recruitment
This was reported last week in the US press but I have not seen it covered here in the UK. Pfizer has reeled-in its social media strategy for recruiting patients to a US clinical trial of over-active bladder drug, Detrol. But it hopes to come back next year with a renewed 'virtual trial strategy.' In the meantime … Continue reading Pfizer undaunted by social media hurdles in clinical trial recruitment
‘Scroll down’ for clinical trials
To begin with, here's more on that Pfizer story about use of mobile phone technology etc in clinical trials. It seems to have piqued an interest among many of you anyway. Also on the subject of clinical trials, I was rather perplexed by this story running out of the NHS Confederation this morning. I'm delighted … Continue reading ‘Scroll down’ for clinical trials
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 Science and the budget, peer review and a spot of crowd-sourcing
UKCMRI Task Gets Bigger
So the UKCMRI partners were in front of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee yesterday as were representatives of the local community. Meanwhile the Science Minister, David Willetts, announced that the Government had agreed the business plan for the new centre as put forward by the Medical Research Council (MRC). A good day all … Continue reading UKCMRI Task Gets Bigger
More on Pfizer
Ther's a couple of good pieces in the FT (link will take you to the front page) about the Pfizer announcement yesterday. Actually, it's quite interesting reading the comments of Pfizer's CEO as reported this morning. They give some insight into the self-critical eye that pharma is taking on how it has done things in the … Continue reading More on Pfizer
Pfizer…and innovation emergencies
The news that Pfizer is to close its R&D facility in Sandwich in Kent has shaken us from our sleepy winter hollows. I've been watching the reactions and comments come over the wires as I am sure you have. This is clearly a company going through considerable transition as it tries to change with the … Continue reading Pfizer…and innovation emergencies
Simon Denegri's Lay Review 