From the Imperial College London website this afternoon announcing they are joining the Francis Crick Institute partnership. Call me an old softie but I was rather touched by the recounting of the time capsule story. I'm only down the road in Camden, I wonder if Ovarian Cancer Action could apply to become the next partner? … Continue reading Sir Francis Crick Institute gains an Imperial partner
UKCMRI
Francis Crick Institute – work gets underway
I pass the site of the new Francis Crick Institute - formerly known as UKCMRI - every day on my way to work. Here's a photo of it that I took yesterday evening. Not the best photo I admit but it was rather windy and I had my hands full. I'll try and remember to … Continue reading Francis Crick Institute – work gets underway
Committee gets a Crick in its neck about UKCMRI
So the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee has this morning published its latest report about the building of the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI) in London. THES has a report here. The Committee seems rather oddly to have raked over old coals in its questioning of whether London is the most … Continue reading Committee gets a Crick in its neck about UKCMRI
Are you researchy?
The NHS Future Forum - the recently announced exercise by the Department of Health to get the NHS reforms back on track - has today published a list of its members. Further names are likely to be added it seems. It includes a few 'researchy' people as we tend to call them here in the office … Continue reading Are you researchy?
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
Science budget: where will the money go?
If you are looking for the detail of today's announcement by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) on the science budget allocations for the spending review period then please look at the excellent summary by our policy and public affairs manager, Becky Purvis, here. Further perspective from me in due course. But, given … Continue reading Science budget: where will the money go?
UKCMRI Gets Go-ahead…and news on CST
Those who visit this blog regularly will know that we've been following progress with the plans to build the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation in London ever since our first post. So, in what feels like an early Christmas present for science, it is good to be able to report that yesterday Camden Town Hall … Continue reading UKCMRI Gets Go-ahead…and news on CST
Where medals and medallions are forged
Whether you like your scientists to be medallion wearers or medal winners or indeed both is I suppose a matter of personal preference. In one of those strange juxtapositions in life I chanced across news of this month's US GQ feature (no, I don't read it) on 'Rock Stars of Science' shortly before leaving my office … Continue reading Where medals and medallions are forged
Earl Howe's Speech at the AMRC AGM
I thought you may be interested in this extract from the Health Minister, Earl Howe's, speech to out AGM on Wednesday: It also gives me pleasure to note [that] AMRC member expenditure on research having exceeded £1 billion for the year for the first time. Given the economic circumstances, I think this is something about which … Continue reading Earl Howe's Speech at the AMRC AGM
Guest Blog: Dame Bridget Ogilvie on the spending review
A change is as good as a rest they say. So I am delighted that our former Chair (as well as former Director of the Wellcome Trust), Dame Bridget Ogilvie, took up my invitation to give us her perspective on the spending review and its implications. Its closing sentiments about the development of young scientists … Continue reading Guest Blog: Dame Bridget Ogilvie on the spending review
The good, the not so good and the uncertain
I can only think of turning the last few hours of trying to absorb today's announcements and figures in the following way: The good Surely even the harshest critic would have to acknowledge that, comparatively speaking, science fared well in today's spending review. It was certainly spared the savage cuts that we are seeing elsewhere … Continue reading The good, the not so good and the uncertain
Science and the Budget 2010
When I first started working in Westminster I seem to remember having to go and collect the Budget papers from HM Treasury. These days you can download them after the Chancellow has spoken. But such is the interest on the day, that it might still be quicker if you walk. So, while you are waiting … Continue reading Science and the Budget 2010
UKCMRI and other news
In Manchester at the Lowry Centre today for the NHS R&D Forum conference. I have fond memories of Manchester having spent some of my childhood growing up near Wilmslow. Indeed, it was on a hot sunny day such as this that I remember myself and umpteen other seven year olds sitting on a gym mat listening to … Continue reading UKCMRI and other news
Good news on medical research regulation
The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and the Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, paid a visit to the Wellcome Trust this morning and announced a clutch of initiatives including: £250 million investment in 2010/11 for the new world-class medical research centre at St Pancras in London which will bring together research teams to tackle major medical challenges. The … Continue reading Good news on medical research regulation
Simon Denegri's Lay Review 