It’s budget day today. A few interesting bits from a medical research perspective including £100 million available for co-investment with the private sector to support new university research facilities, some targeted support for the commercialisation of research and an update on progress with the plan for growth which was announced at the 2011 budget and included… [Read more…]
December 5, 2011 by beckypurvis
Exciting day for medical research today – David Cameron has just launched a new life sciences strategy in a speech this afternoon. Also published were new initiatives to support innovation in the NHS – following David Nicholson’s review of this. The announcements brought together lots of existing initiatives and made a few new announcements including… [Read more…]
October 28, 2011 by beckypurvis
Yesterday David Willetts confirmed the UK government is exploring the impact of the new EU ban on patenting of embryo stem cells and that they will continue funding research using embryo stem cells. Background The European Court of Justice made a decision on 18 October which effectively bans the patenting of scientific techniques involving embryonic stem… [Read more…]
September 14, 2011 by beckypurvis
The Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) have published a new analysis of UK science and engineering funding, finding that although the science budget was protected at £4.6 billion in last October’s spending review, by looking at departmental investment in research, the past year has seen an actual cut in the amount of funding going… [Read more…]
July 26, 2011 by beckypurvis
Last week, George Freeman MP became a the new Life Sciences Adviser. He will advise David Willetts, who is Minister for Universities and Science, on the economic impact of life sciences in the UK. George Freeman has a background in biomedical research so he’s a bit of a pro on the life sciences sector. He’s… [Read more…]
July 18, 2011 by beckypurvis
The government have published a plan of action to support stem cell research in the UK Taking Stock of Regenerative Medicine in the United Kingdom. It identifies ten actions the government will take now to support regenerative medicine in the UK, including working with partners including charities to develop creative funding mechanisms to support UK… [Read more…]
May 5, 2011 by beckypurvis
Last week, a French judge ruled that you should not be able to patent scientific techniques involving embryonic stem cells. Scientists hit the news voicing their concerns that this ruling will make it difficult to get funding to do their research in the UK. Patenting new techniques is how money is made from discoveries and many… [Read more…]
March 22, 2011 by beckypurvis
The Health & Social Care Bill is still in Committee stage in the Commons, being scrutinised by MPs clause by clause, but at their conference a couple of weeks back, the Lib Dems voted against some of the proposed reorganisation and an article in the Guardian this week gives a few pointers what that might… [Read more…]
February 28, 2011 by beckypurvis
Last week, David Willetts, minister for universities and science, spoke at the Universities UK conference about the government’s thinking on universities and higher education for the future. This included a few things that are particularly interesting for research; in particular, Adrian Smith is going to look at how ongoing changes to funding will affect postgraduate… [Read more…]
February 2, 2011 by beckypurvis
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE – the non-departmental public body responsible for distributing public money for teaching and research to universities and colleges) has announced its provisional funding for Higher Education Institutions in England today. There are reductions to research funding and a considerable reduction in capital funding which are going to raise concerns… [Read more…]
March 21, 2012 by beckypurvis
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