Testing times
Developing the next generation of diagnostics
Page 10
Funders set out strategy for improving life in old age
Page 4
News from the Medical Research Council November / December 2010
Network can also be downloaded as a PDF at:
CoNTeNTs
NEWS
Funders set out strategy for improving life in old age 4
Laboratory of the future reaches ‘topping out’ stage 6
FEATURE
Testing times – developing the next generation of diagnostics 10
FUNDING
Helping early career scientists 12
RESEARCH ROUNDUP
Keeping a firm grip on longevity 16 Genetic cause for migraine found 17
Scorpion has welcome sting for heart bypass patients 18
MRC PEOPLE
Symposium marks Ron Laskey’s
retirement 19
Welcome to the last Network of 2010 – and my first.
I am honoured to be joining the MRC family. I have had a long-standing relationship with the MRC throughout my career, and, some 25 years after I first visited Head Office to deliver my application for an MRC Clinical Training Fellowship, I’m delighted to be back.
The outcome of the government Spending Review has been at the top of everyone’s minds during the first few weeks of my tenure. Thankfully, when the review was announced on 20 October, it dealt less of a blow to the UK research community than many had feared. Chancellor George Osborne has outlined a flat cash settlement for the science and research budget. This means that the science budget of £4.6 billion will be maintained in cash terms over four years, which is equivalent to a real terms cut of around 9 per cent. This will be offset to some extent by recycling efficiency savings of £324 million, although more detail will be needed.
A flat cash science budget does mean less money for research in real terms and the sector must continue to seek efficiency gains and increased value for money; savings of 33 per cent on administrative costs are required by the Government. But the worst projections for cuts to the science budget have not been realised. It’s clear that the Government has listened to, and acted upon, the evidence showing investment in science is vital to securing a healthy, sustainable and prosperous future.
“ We must never lose sight of the excellence of the work done by our scientists and of the colleagues who deliver our mission ”
COMMENT FROM
sIR JoHN savIll, CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Head office has moved
As of 15 November, MRC Head Office is based across two sites:
MRC Head office (swindon) 2nd Floor, David Phillips Building Polaris House
North Star Avenue Swindon Wiltshire SN2 1FL
MRC Head office (london) 14th Floor
One Kemble Street London
WC2B 4AN
Switchboard (London and Swindon): 01793 416 200
The former Head Office building at 20 Park Crescent, London, will officially close on 23 December.
Much work will need to be done with colleagues at the MRC’s parent government department, Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) before our expenditure plans can be published in December. Nevertheless, the MRC family will have noted exceptional support for the MRC in the Chancellor’s announcement that BIS will ensure that MRC expenditure is maintained in real terms. It was also great news to hear that the Government will proceed with its investment in the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation. Both positive developments owe much to the MRC’s close partnership with the National Institute for Health Research and the Department of Health.
The UK will retain a strong and vibrant research base, which is able to contribute positively to the health and economy of the UK. Whatever the future circumstances, the MRC will remain guided by its strategic plan and continue to invest in only the highest quality research that makes a difference to people’s lives.
I am strongly committed to taking the MRC forward through the choppy waters ahead. We must never lose sight of the excellence of the work done by our scientists and of the colleagues who deliver our mission. I look forward to working together with colleagues and partners to take the MRC into its second century of world-leading discovery science for health.
sir John savill
News
Funders set out strategy for improving life in old age
A UK-wide strategy has been launched which identifies areas where experts can work together across disciplines and sectors to tackle the main health and wellbeing challenges that face our ageing society.
Today, one in six people in the UK are over 65 – this figure is projected to rise to one in four by 2033. Ageing is inevitable, but factors such as genetics and socioeconomic circumstances mean that its effects are not uniform.
Researchers need to find ways to help people live healthier, more independent lives as they age, not just to improve individual quality of life, but also to ease the economic strain of an ageing population.
The strategy has been developed as part of the cross-research council Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Programme (LLHW), in partnership with the UK Health Departments and led by the MRC. It was developed to address the concern that key challenges in ageing – such as maintaining health and independence and providing cost effective care – cannot be solved in isolation.
It advises that a concerted approach from biologists, clinicians, social scientists, engineers, economists, policy-makers and service providers is required to tackle the toughest ageing challenges, for example dementia and frailty. It suggests that experts also need to work together to understand the health and social impacts of working for longer as retirement age increases.
Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, outgoing chief executive of the MRC, believes the ageing strategy recommendations are relevant to us all:
‘‘Along with energy and climate change, ageing is one of the major global challenges for the 21st century. Life expectancy in the UK has increased by around 30 years over the past century. This dramatic rise is not limited to the developed world – developing countries are also now experiencing a demographic shift to an increasingly older population.’’
LLHW has funded £16 million of multi- disciplinary research since it launched in 2008 and a further £12.5m is scheduled to be awarded in the coming months. Funding is contributed by five research councils and four UK Health Departments. Read the full strategy at www.mrc.ac.uk/llhw/ageingstrategy
TeaMINg up To TaCkle ageINg
The strategy singles out several areas in which collaboration is likely to have the greatest impact. These are:
• Achieving good cognitive function and mental wellbeing later in life.
• Promoting physical health in old age.
• Extending healthy working lives.
• Enhancing mobility and independence in an ageing population.
ukCMRI plans submitted
Plans for the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI) proposed for construction in central London have been presented to Camden Council. If the application is successful, building work will begin next year, scheduled for completion in 2015.
The planning application is expected to be heard by members of the Development Control Committee before the end of the year, after a formal consultation by the council. This follows over two years of consultation with scientists,
business leaders, politicians and planners, and meetings with more than 500 local people.
Sir David Cooksey, chair of UKCMRI, said: “The proposed UKCMRI institute has been carefully designed to meet future scientific demands and to respond to the architectural heritage of the local area. In addition, we have modified the exterior, public areas and open spaces in response to consultation.”
UKCMRI has been founded by the MRC, Cancer Research UK, the Wellcome Trust and University
College London. It will carry out groundbreaking research on the basic biology underlying human health. Its aim will be to drive forward better treatment and prevention of the most
significant diseases affecting people today, such as cancer and heart disease.
The plans are open to view at an exhibition on the site of the proposed institute at Brill Place to the west of St Pancras International Station.
Further details can be found at www.ukcmri.ac.uk
Memory expert to lead MRC Cognition and Brain sciences unit
Professor Susan Gathercole has been appointed as the successor to Professor William Marslen- Wilson as director of the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (CBSU) in Cambridge.
Established in 1944, CBSU is one of the largest and most long-lasting contributors to the development of psychological theory and practice. The unit’s research programme investigates fundamental human mental processes such as attention, memory, communication and emotion.
Professor Gathercole is currently head of the Department of Psychology at the University of York, where her research focuses on memory and learning in both children and adults. A particular focus of her research is on working (short-term) memory, the system we use to temporarily store information needed to carry out complex tasks such as learning, reasoning and comprehension.
To aid the strategic partnership between CBSU and Cambridge University in the future development of cognitive neuroscience in Cambridge, the MRC has awarded Professor Gathercole an MRC Research Professorship to be held at the university. The Regent House of the University will be asked to establish the Professorship from the date of her appointment as Director.
Commenting on her appointment, Professor Gathercole said: “It is a great privilege to take on the stewardship of the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at this truly exciting time in which cognitive science is generating ground-breaking advances in many aspects of health, disease and disorder, as well as in younger and older age.
“The mission of CBSU over the next decade is to harness the full potential of the field to improve human health. This will be achieved through innovative cognitive theory and cognitive
neuroscience of the highest quality, coupled with an ambitious translational programme dedicated to propelling its fundamental science through to practical benefits for health, medicine, and education.”
MRC at the British science Festival
The MRC hosted two events at the British Science Festival in Birmingham in September.
Organised by the British Science Association, the festival is one of Europe’s largest.
The MRC Centre for Transplantation at King’s College London released two exciting new developments for transplant patients – protein therapeutics and cell therapy – aimed at increasing the life of the transplant organ.
Sue Townsend, author of the Adrian Mole books, and BBC broadcaster and MRC Council member Vivienne Parry joined scientific and clinical experts to explain the importance of this groundbreaking research. Sue, who suffers from diabetes-related kidney disease, received a donated kidney from her son last year. She spoke about her experiences as both a dialysis and transplant
patient, and how the kidney transplantation had affected her family.
Visitors also discussed some of the thorny ethical issues in the field of organ
transplantation, with the focus largely on the suitability on donors when demand outstrips supply by three to one.
Professor Steve Sacks, director of the MRC Centre for Transplantation, commented: “This was a great opportunity to share a number of exciting research developments with an audience of school students and the general public. The research team welcomed the chance to engage with the public, who are indirectly funding this work and included patients who will hopefully benefit from these breakthroughs in the future.”
The MRC Clinical Trials Unit, also based in London, dispelled a few myths in its session, The Truth about Clinical Trials. Using real examples, speakers explained the value and impact of clinical trials on healthcare both in the UK and internationally. Trial participant Richard Stephens told how his view of clinical trials has changed as a result of his experiences.
MRC Clinical Trials Unit director Max Parmar said:
“We rely on members of the public to participate in clinical trials and it’s important that they understand the process. This was a useful exercise in getting back to basics and explaining what clinical trials are about. Richard’s account of his experiences as a trial participant was particularly insightful.”
Meanwhile, Dr Karim Raza and Dr Andy Filer from the MRC Centre for Immune Regulation in Birmingham led interactive sessions on how early joint disease can be detected by looking for inflammatory changes. The centre’s Liver Research Group showed videos of the
new imaging techniques it is developing to track the movement of immune cells administered to patient to treat liver disease.
The British Science Festival is an annual event and will be taking place in Bradford next year from 10 to 15 September. Scientists interested in taking part should contact their MRC Regional Communications Manager.
For more information, go to www.britishsciencefestival.org
An Adrian Mole short story written by Sue Townsend especially for the event.
Vivienne Parry explains new research aimed at increasing the lifespan of the transplant organ
Royal visit for MRC Mitochondrial Biology unit
The Princess Royal paid a visit to scientists at the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit (MBU) in October to learn more about their pioneering research into mitochondria.
Mitochondria are the human body’s
‘powerhouses’ which convert energy in food into a chemical form that provides the fuel for life. They are involved in a wide range of human diseases, including neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases, and possibly in the process of ageing.
The princess, who is the Patron of the Cambridge-based unit, joined MBU scientists at a meeting convened to discuss their latest scientific findings. Her Royal Highness learned about the unit’s fundamental research into how mitochondria work, and how, when they malfunction, they become involved in major human diseases, such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and cancer. This was the princess’s third visit to the unit in the last decade.
Director of the unit, Professor Sir John Walker, said: “We were delighted that once again the Princess Royal honoured the unit by making this visit. We were able to explain to her our basic research into mitochondria and to show her
how we are applying it to neuromuscular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease and for developing new therapies. It was wonderful to find the princess so receptive and so engaged in our activities.”
News continued
laboratory of the future reaches ‘topping out’ stage
A new building for the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge has reached the first critical milestone of completion – the ‘topping out’ stage.
The £200 million building, due to open in 2012, is the flagship development for the newly expanded Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
It will provide first-class facilities to over 400 researchers, including some of the world’s leading scientists.
The ‘topping out’ ceremony – the moment in a construction project where the final beam is placed at the highest point of the building – was performed by local MP and Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley.
David Willetts, the Universities and Science Minister, also attended. He said: “This super-lab will be the global site for a new age of research collaborations aiming to alleviate human suffering. The LMB has already made great strides towards this goal, ploughing back more than £300m of commercial income generated by its discoveries into the life-saving science of the future.”
The LMB is a world-class, multidisciplinary laboratory exploring some of the most complex problems in basic biological science. Since its opening in 1962, work carried out at the laboratory has yielded numerous awards, including nine Nobel Prizes shared between 13 LMB scientists. The latest of these was Dr Venki Ramakrishnan, who won the 2009 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
LMB director Dr Hugh Pelham is delighted to see the potential of the new building being realised:
“Our scientists will make the discoveries of the 21st century in this world-class research centre.
We look forward to seeing the next generation of pioneering discoveries from the LMB scientists, and helping to promote Cambridge.”
The Cambridge Biological Campus, where the building is sited, will provide an international centre of excellence in biomedical research.
The campus is a cluster of biomedical, clinical, research, treatment and teaching organisations, including the University of Cambridge, the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome
Trust. Andrew Lansley MP performing the ‘topping out’
The Princess Royal meets MBU PhD student Alice Zhang
showcasing the impact of research to parliament
October saw the MRC take part in an event to showcase the work of the UK research councils to an audience of MPs and peers.
The event was organised by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology and Research Councils UK. The MRC focused on
demonstrating the impact of our scientists’
research, and how it has led to some of the most significant breakthroughs in medical science, benefitting millions worldwide.
Two of the MRC’s eminent scientists were on hand to discuss their research: Sir Greg Winter from the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Dr Rebecca Fitzgerald from the MRC Cancer Cell Unit.
In September, a team led by Dr Fitzgerald published details of an inexpensive and simple diagnostic test that can detect a precursor of oesophageal cancer. Oesophageal cancer is the UK’s sixth biggest cancer killer and once diagnosed there is only a one in ten chance of survival after five years. The new test, called the Cytosponge, can diagnose a disease known as Barrett’s oesophagus. In the UK at least 375,000 people are estimated to develop Barrett’s oesophagus each year; around 10 per cent of these patients will go on to develop oesophageal cancer. It is hoped the technique can be used to catch the cancer at an early stage, possibly preventing its development (read more in Testing Times, page 10).
Sir Greg Winter is one of the UK’s most distinguished scientists. His pioneering research at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology has led to techniques to ‘humanise’ antibodies and produce fully human antibodies.
Antibody drugs make up a third of all new drug treatments for a variety of major diseases, including cancer, arthritis and asthma, and are forecast to have a market value of $43 billion by 2012. Sir Greg’s research has not only led to significant health benefits, but also tangible economic benefits for the UK economy.
green light for bowel cancer screening
On 3 October, Prime Minister David Cameron announced that an extra £164 million would be spent on cancer provision, including “updating and improving our screening processes, particularly on bowel cancer, which can save 3,000 lives a year”. Mr Cameron was referring to the Flexi-Scope test, a quick one-off screening test that could cut the risk of developing bowel cancer by a third.
A 16-year study, funded by the MRC, Cancer Research UK and the National Institute for Health Research, showed that a single flexible sigmoidoscopy examination in men and women aged between 55 and 64 reduced the incidence of the disease compared with a control group who had usual care. Over the course of the study, bowel cancer mortality was reduced by 43 per cent in the group that had the Flexi- Scope test.
Around one in 20 people in the UK will develop bowel cancer during their lifetime. It causes over 16,000 deaths each year and is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer. The researchers behind the study have suggested that, in addition to saving lives, a screening programme using Flexi-Scope could save an average of £28 for every person screened.
The Government has committed £60m over the next four years to incorporate Flexi-Scope into the existing NHS national screening programme.
Subject to approval by the National Screening Committee, pilots could begin in the spring.
How do polyps grow?
50-60 year old person
Two small polyps have formed. There are no symptoms.
3 years later
One of the polyps has got bigger but there are still no symptoms.
6 years later
The polyp has grown into the centre of the bowel and is very large but there are still no symptoms.
10 years later
The polyp has become cancerous and may bleed. It can now spread to other parts of the body.
How does the Flexi-scope Test prevent cancer?
During the Flexi-Scope Test, the nurse can see the polyps by inserting a tiny camera into the bowel.
The nurse can then remove the polyps with the tiny Flexi-Scope.
This doesn’t hurt.
Once all the polyps have been removed, they cannot turn into cancer.
The bowel is now clear.
This person is now less likely to develop bowel cancer than before.
Polyps
News continued
The MRC needs your data
MRC e-Val, the MRC’s online tool for gathering the outputs and achievements of MRC-funded research, is again collecting data from our scientists.
The MRC e-Val team has used feedback from users to improve elements of the system, making it simpler to use. MRC-funded scientists are asked to log in to the system and enter data about their research before the end of November.
Dr Ian Viney, Head of Evaluation, says: “We’d like to thank everyone who has already submitted information. Users who have submitted data previously simply need to log in and update it.
The data submitted through MRC e-Val is enormously important to the MRC, equipping us to better communicate the benefits of MRC funding and shaping our future strategy. Last year’s data alone armed the MRC with an
invaluable cache of information about how our research impacts and influences the economy, society and global scientific knowledge. This year we hope to further expand this picture.”
The MRC is working with other funders, including those in Scotland and Ireland and from other fields of research, to encourage more unified data collection systems. The funders are also working on harmonising ways of measuring research outputs and impacts.
Following the MRC’s lead, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has recently run a successful pilot of its own version, STFC e-Val. STFC is currently planning a full data gathering period for later in the 2010/11 financial year. The other research councils are also looking at harmonising systems for collecting information on outputs.
Data collected by MRC e-Val in 2009 showed that MRC science has helped to create or expand over 30 new companies, launch 24 new products and interventions since 2006 and attract more than £550 million in new direct financial investment in UK science. Now that this baseline of information has been established, progress and trends can be tracked over time with each subsequent data gathering period.
For more information on MRC e-Val and analysis of some of the data collected so far, visit www.mrc.ac.uk/eval
MRC
state-of-the-art influenza and stem cell centre opens
A £16 million Influenza Resource Centre and UK Stem Cell Bank opened in October, supported with £6.6m from the MRC.
The new centre, based in Hertfordshire, will be dedicated to supporting the development of vaccines for preventing both seasonal and pandemic influenza. It will also house the UK Stem Cell Bank - a world leading initiative designed to help translate exciting research into successful clinical treatments by providing ethically approved, quality controlled stem cell lines for research.
The laboratory development was officially opened by Public Health Minister, Anne Milton MP. It represents a unique partnership between the Health Protection Agency, Department of Health, MRC and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and is situated at the Health Protection Agency’s National Institute of Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC).
More than 40 scientists work there, some of whom played a crucial role in developing an effective vaccine against the influenza (A) H1N1 virus in May 2009. The scientists include one of just a few teams in the world tasked with responding to pandemics by rapidly developing virus strains that can be used for large scale vaccine manufacture. They were able
to make and send out producer strains for H1N1 vaccine production in less than a month.
The stem cell team in the new centre is supporting researchers in the UK and abroad to develop effective therapies for devastating conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, severe spinal trauma and multiple sclerosis.
Dr Stephen Inglis, director of the NIBSC, said:
“This new building gives us first class facilities for the research and development needed both to counter a major global threat and also to speed the development of new classes of medicine that have the potential to revolutionise clinical treatment in years to come. The health impact of the work to be done here will be felt by thousands, if not millions of people here and abroad.”
seveN ages
MRC annual Review 2009/10
Shakespeare famously divided humanity into seven ages. The MRC Annual Review 2009/10, launched online on 1 November, borrows this theme to show how MRC-funded research benefits everyone, at every stage of life.
The impact of medical research begins before we are even born, through research on genetics and fetal development. It improves health across the human lifespan from infancy to old age.
Even after we die, research into tissues donated by volunteers is helping MRC scientists to unlock the causes of devastating conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
Seven ages tells the stories of MRC scientists behind some of the most exciting discoveries from 2009/10 and of people of all ages who have benefited from their findings.
• Listen to an interview with Claire Bosanquet, whose young sons took part in a clinical trial of a new treatment for muscular dystrophy.
• Hear the story of 19-year-old Sunjay Singh, who has been part of a long-term MRC study since he was born.
• Find out about research into the boundaries of consciousness being carried out by MRC scientist Dr Martin Monti.
• Meet Eddie Holden, a pensioner who has agreed to donate his brain to medical research after he dies.
Learn about some of the many discoveries our scientists made in 2009/10, from how the lives of thousands of HIv patients could be saved at no extra cost to a new technique for predicting risk of alzheimer’s disease.
Read the review at
www.mrc.ac.uk/sevenages
TesTINg TIMes
Getting the right diagnosis at the right time is fundamental to good medicine.
But applications of diagnostic tests and technologies can go far beyond simply discovering what disease a patient has. Network examines the role of the MRC in developing the next generation of diagnostics.
From biomarkers and stratified medicine to new cancer screening programmes and innovative uses for mobile phones in identifying various conditions, diagnostic technologies have a huge and growing role in modern medicine.
New techniques are being applied in the form of tests, devices and imaging tools that can monitor patients’ responses to treatment more subtly, or identify subcategories of disease to predict which patients will respond to a particular drug. And because they are generally faster and cheaper than therapeutics to develop from research into products that can be used in the clinic, diagnostics constitute a dynamic sector in which MRC-funded research can make a substantial difference to people’s lives.
For example, recent advances in imaging are starting to deliver sophisticated tools capable of diagnosing complicated psychological and neurological conditions such as autism. MRC-funded research at the Institute of Psychology, King’s College London has led to a pioneering method of diagnosing autism spectrum disorders using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to create 3D images of the grey matter in the brain. A computer then assesses the images for structure, shape and thickness, identifying biological markers associated with autism, rather than relying solely on interviews or observed personality traits.
stratified medicine
As treatments become ever more sophisticated, there is a growing trend for new drugs and antibody-based therapeutics to target particular subgroups of disease: so-called ‘stratification’. It wouldn’t be possible to develop such new treatments without the support of a complementary set of advanced diagnostics. Good biomarkers capable of identifying the sets of patients who will benefit most from so-called ‘smart drugs’ are key to the concept of stratified medicine, an area the MRC is centrally involved in developing in the UK.
A £50 million investment in stratified medicine was announced in October by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), together with funders including the MRC, the Department of Health, Cancer Research UK and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Called the Stratified Medicines Innovation Platform, it is intended to place the UK at the centre of this revolution in diagnostics and treatment of disease.
The fund will support innovative R&D in areas such as tumour profiling to improve cancer care and developing biomarkers that underpin more effective drugs.
John Jeans, the MRC’s chief operating officer, said: “Targeting treatments to find out which patients are most likely to benefit is a key issue not just for patients but for the NHS and healthcare providers globally.
“Building on a joint initiative with the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries, the MRC is working with TSB on the stratification of treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis and we look forward to extending this collaboration under the new Innovation Platform.”
Making a difference
New diagnostics technology is equally vital to making screening programmes as effective and cost-effective for the NHS as possible. As reported on page 7, the Government has recently announced funding to introduce bowel cancer screening using flexible sigmoidoscopy over the next four years. The MRC co-funded the 16-year trial that showed the effectiveness of this method and the new screening programme could save up to 3,000 lives a year in the UK.
We know from MRC e-Val, our new tool for gathering information about outputs, outcomes and impacts, that MRC-funded research has directly helped further more than 300 innovative products and interventions in the past four years, of which 24 entered clinical use between 2006 and 2009. Six of these groundbreaking inventions were new diagnostics based on MRC research. For example, a molecular test for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer and pre-cancer in cytology and histology preparations now in clinical use was developed from research on a particular group of proteins at the MRC Cancer Cell Unit in Cambridge.
Dr Nick Coleman, Professor Ron Laskey and colleagues showed that minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins could substantially improve the early diagnosis of several common cancers by acting as markers for malignancy and pre-malignancy. MCM proteins are essential for DNA replication. They are present in the nucleus throughout the cell cycle but are rapidly down-regulated in differentiated cells. Because cancer cells often do not differentiate properly but continue to grow and multiply, they remain in the cell cycle and maintain characteristically high levels of MCM proteins.
MCM testing is now being developed for the early detection of cervical, lung and bowel cancers. The team has received several major scientific prizes for their work recently, including the Goudie Medal of the Pathological Society awarded to Dr Coleman and the Royal Society’s Royal Medal awarded to Professor Laskey.
Dr Coleman says: “The MCM test is very exciting and has the potential to make a major impact on patient care. The development of a feasible test that can be applied to large numbers of people for the early detection of cancer is an important advance, as the earlier a cancer is treated, the better the chances of survival for the patient.”
Also at the MRC Cancer Cell Unit, Dr Rebecca Fitzgerald is working on an inexpensive and simple device that can detect a precursor of oesophageal cancer called Barrett’s oesophagus. The majority of cases of Barrett’s oesophagus go undiagnosed which means that even the best preventive and therapeutic measures would have little effect in reducing mortality from oesophageal cancer – currently the sixth most lethal cancer in the UK.
With Development Gap Funding from MRC Technology (MRCT), Dr Fitzgerald and colleagues have produced a regulatory authority- approved device called the Cytosponge, which comprises a capsule with a string attached to it. Patients swallow the capsule and take a drink of water. In the stomach the device expands into a sponge-like mesh which is then removed through the mouth by pulling on the string. On the way out, the Cytosponge collects cells, which are then stained with an antibody that shows up abnormalities associated with Barrett’s oesophagus when examined under the microscope.
Research published online in the British Medical Journal in September showed that the Cytosponge is a reliable and more comfortable diagnostic technique than the current method of endoscopy, and could potentially be carried out in GP surgeries. Dr Fitzgerald says:
“We look forward to undertaking further studies and establishing this as the recommended screening method for patients.”
support for R&D
While it is often not feasible for the MRC to fund a project all the way from basic research to clinical application, we provide support for our researchers from an early stage. In 2008, the MRC introduced a new funding programme for translational research, available to researchers at universities as well as within our units. One part of this programme – the Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS) – supports preclinical development of novel therapies, interventions and diagnostics, and any relevant research tools. The Developmental Clinical Studies (DCS) scheme covers exploratory clinical research as far as phase I and II trials, the natural next stage in development.
Between them, DPFS and DCS have so far committed over £40 million in support of more than 90 projects: 25 of these projects are for diagnostic technologies that will hopefully continue the MRC’s success in introducing improved ways of diagnosing disease, selecting the best treatments and monitoring patients’ progress.
The Cytosponge before and after expansion
DIagNosTICs IN THe DevelopMeNTal paTHway FuNDINg sCHeMe
Mobile assessment of schizophrenia:
Schizophrenia is a severe and often lifelong disorder that affects one per cent of the population. Developing new treatments is difficult because it is hard to rigorously assess symptoms and outcomes.
Professor Shon William Lewis at the University of Manchester is being funded by the MRC’s DPFS to create a new approach to measuring symptoms using an adapted mobile phone. The system would collect data several times a day, allowing for a much better assessment of the patient’s condition. If successful, it could offer a new way to evaluate potential treatments and, in the longer term, become standard use for people with schizophrenia to monitor their own health in the community.
Diagnostic marker for heart attacks:
The current gold standard in diagnosing an acute myocardial infarction, or heart attack, is the appearance in the blood of proteins called cardiac troponins. However, these proteins are slow to accumulate and in a situation where every second counts, a better diagnostic marker is needed. Troponins also remain in the blood for several hours, which makes it hard to predict if a patient will have another heart attack. At King’s College London, Professor Michael Marber is testing whether a different protein, called cardiac myosin binding protein C, would be a better marker of myocardial infarction.
If so, it could reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and avoid overuse of potentially harmful antithrombotic therapies in patients at low risk of further heart attacks.
The MRC pipeline
In September, the MRC published a report detailing some of the MRC-funded research and development projects that have the potential to lead to significant new clinical applications in the next three to five years. The MRC Pipeline includes new therapies, medicines and research tools as well as diagnostics, and it is available to download from the website: www.mrc.ac.uk/
utilities/Documentrecord/index.htm?d=MRC007263
FuNDINg
Dr Gracjan Michlewski Dr Lori Passmore
Helping early career scientists towards independent research
The MRC has a leading role in training future research leaders in the UK across a range of biomedical, clinical and health disciplines. At any one time, the MRC supports around 1,650 PhD students and 200 postdoctoral fellows. Our aims are to train and develop the next generation of research leaders, help address national strategic research skills needs and support excellent individuals at critical points of their careers.
One such critical point for any researcher is when they set up their own laboratory for the first time, establishing themselves as an independent scientist. The MRC Career Development Awards (CDA) are designed to support outstanding postdoctoral researchers, offering them training and development to consolidate their skills and make the transition from trainee to investigator.
In July, CDA fellowships totalling £10.3 million were awarded to 10 talented scientists starting that journey. For example, Dr Gracjan
Michlewski was awarded £1.5m to establish an independent laboratory at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology in Edinburgh.
Gracjan, currently at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, carries out research focused on a group of small non-coding RNA molecules called microRNAs, which play an important role in controlling protein production in cells. Every cell in the body relies on its proteins, so microRNAs are vital for normal development and body function. Altered levels of microRNAs are found in many diseases, including cancer.
This suggests they might be involved in causing disease and could therefore be a potential target for new therapies.
The CDA will fund Gracjan’s laboratory to carry out a five-year project to increase understanding of the role of microRNAs in the control of protein production. One particular goal is to reveal how specific microRNAs are
made and how levels of microRNAs are controlled within cells.
Gracjan said: “Ninety seven per cent of the human genome does not code for proteins and yet the majority of this information is
transcribed into RNA. I believe that
understanding the functions and metabolism of non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs, will be vital in many aspects of human biology and medicine. I’m honoured and privileged to have received the MRC Career Development Award.
With this award I will aim to establish a highly competitive research programme in the field of microRNA biogenesis and function in humans.”
CDA fellowships are not the only source of funding available to MRC researchers looking to establish themselves. Dr Lori Passmore at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology has been awarded a €1.1m Starting Independent Researcher Grant by the European Research Council (ERC) to gain insight into how genes are expressed at the molecular level. The five-year award will allow Lori to put together a team of four postdoctoral or PhD stage researchers.
The genes of eukaryotes (animals, plants and fungi) are normally copied into precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) molecules. These molecules then have to be processed in order for the instructions from the gene to be translated into proteins. One end of the pre-mRNA molecule has an element attached to it called a Poly(A) tail. The tail’s length
dictates how stable the mRNA is and how efficiently it can be translated into protein.
Lori’s group will study how poly(A) tails are added and removed from mRNA, which will provide an insight into how the genes are expressed. Ultimately, this could shed light on how faulty gene expression contributes to diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Lori said: “I am thrilled to have been awarded an ERC Starting Grant which will provide generous financial support over the next five years. Our early results are exciting and I anticipate that our work will lead to fundamental insights into gene expression.”
“ Our early results are exciting and I anticipate that our work will lead to fundamental insights into gene expression. ”
MRC research boards can also award New Investigator Research Grants, primarily for applicants who already have a position at a university or other research institution. These three-year grants cover costs for scientists setting up their own research group.
More information about all the MRC’s research training and careers schemes can be found on the website: www.mrc.ac.uk/
researchtrainingcareers
Could mobile phones be used to diagnose sTIs?
Two projects with the potential to revolutionise the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the management of methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection were launched in October by the MRC as part of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) partnership.
The first project, which has received a £4 million grant, aims to develop a prototype that will allow people to take a single test at home and get instant, accurate results on whether they have one or more of several STIs. The research team proposes using a device ‘similar to a pregnancy test’, then using mobile phone technology to send the results to a clinic, rather than having to visit the clinic in person.
Led by Dr Tariq Sadiq, senior lecturer and consultant physician in sexual health and HIV at St George’s, University of London, the project brings together industry and academic researchers with backgrounds as diverse as telecommunications, microengineering and microbiology.
There is a growing STI epidemic in the UK and many people who may be infected are reluctant
to go to their doctor for diagnosis. If an effective method could be developed, it could help people take control of their sexual health and prevent the further spread of infection.
Dr Sadiq explains: “Currently, if you want to know if you have an infection you have to send away a sample and wait for the results to come back in a few days. Imagine how much more likely you would be to get tested if you could have an accurate result in real-time and could let your doctor know within minutes of taking the test.”
The second project, to develop a new generation of tools to track the spread of healthcare-acquired MRSA infection, has been awarded £3.2m. Professor Sharon Peacock and partners at the University of Cambridge aim to discover how strains of the infection vary from patient to patient and which populations are most at risk of infection.
By combining high-throughput DNA sequencing with genome-wide studies, the team hopes to be able to identify whether one patient has infected another or whether the infection has come from another source. The
research will provide crucial knowledge for healthcare workers looking to implement strategies to track the spread of MRSA in hospitals and reduce the transmission of infection.
Taking these results one step further, the scientists believe that by combining expertise from several areas of infection research and comparing MRSA samples from patients on a national level, they will be able to identify high-risk geographical areas.
Professor Peacock said: “The implications for public health are clear. This technology has the potential to trace transmission pathways of MRSA more definitively so interventions or treatments can be targeted with precision and according to need.”
The MRC is the lead administrative partner for the Translational Infection Research Initiative on behalf of the UKCRC, a partnership of funders which aims to establish the UK as a world leader in clinical research. Both projects will bring together researchers across many disciplines.
FuNDINg continued
£4m for projects to improve diet and health
Nine new research projects aimed at uncovering links between food and health, representing a £4 million investment, were announced in September by an academic- industry partnership between the MRC, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and 13 food and drink companies.
The new projects tackle issues such as reducing fat content or the proportion of saturated fat in food, fortification with bioactive compounds including omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants, and increasing the dietary fibre in white bread.
The Diet and Health Research Industry Club (DRINC) was set up to improve our scientific understanding of the links between diet and health. All projects funded by DRINC are run independently in universities and research institutes and produce publicly available information relevant to the food industry.
Professor Stephen Holgate, chair of the MRC Population and Systems Medicine Board, said:
“We have world-class researchers working alongside some of the world’s food giants in order to improve the food and drink products available to the general public. It’s a great example of where MRC-funded research impacts on the front line.”
DRINC projects in brief
Can diet slow the progression of osteoarthritis?
As our population ages, strategies to maintain good health in old age are increasingly important. Researchers from the University of East Anglia will be investigating possible links between diet and osteoarthritis including the potential for compounds in broccoli and garlic to slow or prevent cartilage destruction.
Healthier white bread
Future food security relies on quality of nutrition as well as quantity of food.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham and the Institute of Food Research, with colleagues at Rothamsted Research and Campden BRI, will be studying the natural variation of fibre in wheat with a view to making high-fibre white bread.
New cattle feeds to reduce saturated fats in dairy products The UK population gets one third of its saturated fat intake from dairy products. A team at the University of Reading will carry out research that could cut 90,000 tonnes of saturated fat from the UK food chain every year. They plan to investigate dietary strategies for dairy cows to reduce saturated fats in milk while minimising any change in dangerous trans fats.
european funding opportunities
Europe’s largest public-private initiative, the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), has released a call for proposals for collaborative projects between industry and academia. The deadline for applications is early 2011.
IMI supports collaborative research projects and builds networks of industrial and academic experts. Its overall aim is to boost
pharmaceutical innovation in Europe and to
speed the development of better and safer medicines for patients.
The MRC runs an IMI networking costs scheme which seeks to support the costs involved in preparing a proposal. Costs can be requested for all UK-based organisations within a consortium that would be eligible for European Commission funding from IMI. Applications can be submitted at any point before the IMI call for proposals deadline.
For more information, visit www.mrc.ac.uk/
Fundingopportunities/
Internationalopportunities/
Innovativemedicinesinitiative or contact Victoria Brewer, MRC International Strategy Manager: 020 7670 5418, email victoria.
Further information on the IMI scheme can be found at www.imi.europa.eu
OPPORTUNITIES
Please check the MRC website for further information and updates: www.mrc.ac.uk/Fundingopportunities/Deadlines
BoaRD Deadline date Board meeting
Population and Systems Medicine Board Programme & Partnership Grant Outline 16 December 2010 23 March 2011 Neuroscience and Mental Health Board Programme & Partnership Grant Outline 16 December 2010 16 March 2011
ReseaRCH paNel Deadline date panel meeting
Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (outlines) 18 November 2010 19 January 2011
Transitional Stem Cell Research (committee outlines) 30 November 2010 2 February 2011
Calls FoR pRoposals Deadline date panel meeting
Lifelong Health and Wellbeing (full) 24 November 2010 16 March 2011
FellowsHIps Deadline date panel meeting
Clinical Scientist Fellowship 12 November 2010 1 - 3 June 2011
Senior Clinical Fellowship 12 November 2010 1 - 3 June 2011
Clinical Research Training Fellowship (round 1) 20 January 2011 29 June - 1 July 2011
Career Development Award 27 January 2011 21 - 22 July 2011
MRC grants administration to change in 2011
The MRC will begin using the Je-S (joint electronic submission) system for managing grant proposals and awards from 2011. Je-S is a tried and tested system used by the other research councils.
The exact timetable has yet to be agreed. All MRC competitions with closing dates before the end of March 2011 will use the MRC’s current application process, Electronic
Application and Assessment (EAA) or electronic pro-formas. For subsequent competitions, applicants for MRC funding should refer to the website for guidance.
Training and familiarisation sessions for researchers who are not yet familiar with Je-S will be offered by the MRC in the run up to the changeover. The MRC will provide at least six weeks’ notice of which system to use and will
write to all university research offices to advise them which closing dates are affected. Some deadlines and closing dates may need to be rescheduled. In the meantime, applicants should begin preparing their business cases and resource requirements.
For the latest information and updates on progress, applicants should visit www.mrc.ac.uk/transfertoJes
ReseaRCH RouNDup
Toxin a back in the frame for C. difficile infection
Infection with the bacterium Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is the most significant cause of healthcare-associated diarrhoea in Europe and North America and it can be deadly. MRC-funded scientists at the University of Nottingham have confirmed that the two main toxins responsible for symptoms of C. difficile infection – toxin A and toxin B – can cause the disease independently of each other. This discovery challenges research published last year proposing that toxin A alone could not cause the disease. The finding has major
implications for diagnosis of the infection and for development of new vaccines and drugs to treat it. By recreating equivalent strains of C. difficile to those used in the 2009 study and testing them in hamsters, the researchers confirmed that both toxins, independently or together, can cause life-threatening disease.
In light of this study, researchers who have been developing tests over the last year to diagnose C. difficile by targeting toxin B alone may need to re-evaluate their strategy.
Professor Nigel Minton, who led the research, said: “We were able to show that a mutated C. difficile strain which produced only toxin A could prove deadly. However, our results do still bear out that the mutant strain producing toxin B alone does cause the disease to be more severe. We strongly believe that new strategies to improve the management of this disease should target both bacterial toxins.”
Published online ahead of print at www.nature.com, September 2010
keeping a firm grip on longevity
Grip strength, the speed at which we walk or rise from a chair and our ability to balance could be indicators of how long we might live, according to research carried out at the MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing. Scientists analysed findings from 33 studies carried out worldwide between 1984 and 2009, involving more than 50,000 men and women. Study volunteers with a stronger hand grip and better performance in other physical tests lived longer than their weaker counterparts.
Researchers believe these simple measurements could be used to monitor health and guide decisions on healthcare. Grip strength was measured in study volunteers from the age of 18 to over 80, and its link with survival was borne out in results from both younger and older adults. The other tests of physical capability, including speed of walking and of rising from a chair, were conducted in those over 60. More research is needed to determine whether these factors are able to predict long-term survival in younger people in the same way that grip strength does. Lead author of the research, Dr Rachel Cooper, said: “Simple non-invasive assessment measures like these that are linked to current and future health could help doctors identify those most vulnerable to poor health in later life and single out those who could benefit from early intervention to keep them active for longer.”
British Medical Journal (2010) Volume 341, p4467
ability to self-reflect related to brain structure
Introspection, our ability to reflect on our thoughts, emotions and behaviour, is linked to brain structure, MRC-funded research has shown. To measure a person’s ability to introspectively assess their performance at a task, researchers from the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging at University College London showed a group of participants two screens. Each contained six patches: on one of the screens, one of the patches was brighter than the rest. Participants were asked to identify which screen contained the brighter patch, and then asked to rate how confident they were in their decision. “We made the task difficult so that people could never be entirely sure whether their answer was correct. Someone who is good at introspection will be confident when they know they are correct, but less confident when they are not sure,” explained Dr Rimona Weil, who co-led the research. The scientists found that the accuracy of introspection differed substantially amongst the 32 study participants. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans showed that the better a person was at introspection, the more grey and white matter and nerve connections they had in the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which plays a role in judgement and decision making.
Introspection is one of the key aspects of human consciousness and these findings aid our understanding of why and how brain damage can affect introspection. Ultimately, this could help to establish treatments for brain damage or dementia.
Science (2010) Volume 329 (5998), p1541
Brain wiring helps fruit flies sniff out a mate
Sexual attraction between males and females could be down to differences in the way the brain is wired up, according to work carried out by scientists at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. The research was carried out in fruit flies, which share many genes with mammals. The scientists studied a gene called fruitless, normally only active in male flies where it is important for controlling sexual identity. Earlier research has shown that female flies manipulated to express fruitless protein in their brain cells will try to mate with normal female flies. The new study
investigated how the brain cells expressing fruitless are ‘wired up’. They found many differences between wiring in male and female brains. In particular, transmission of information about male pheromones – scents given off by male fruit flies – went along diverging brain circuits in each sex. This may explain why female flies like the scent and males do not. Dr Gregory Jefferis, who led the research, explains: “Previous work in mice has shown that pheromones are critical for regulating sex-specific behaviour, but has yet to identify wiring differences in the brain that might explain why the same smell is
processed differently by each sex. This is what we seem to have found in the fly. Next we want to find out if these wiring differences really do alter brain function and behaviour.”
Current Biology (2010) Volume 20 (18), p1589
stem cell transplant offers hope for treating blindness
MRC-funded scientists at the University College London Institute of Child Health and Institute of Ophthalmology have successfully implanted cells from healthy mice into mice with an inherited form of childhood blindness called Leber Congenital Amaurosis. The pioneering stem cell treatment replaces diseased parts of the retina and could potentially lead to a treatment for retinal diseases that affect around 3,000 children in the UK. The implanted cells expressed a gene called Crx which is needed to make healthy cone and rod light-detecting elements (photoreceptors). The cells were able to integrate with the retina and become new cone photoreceptors – the first time this has ever been done in the laboratory. Further studies are needed to demonstrate whether it is possible to restore sight using this method.
Professor Robin Ali, who co-led the study, said: “We are now working to assess how much vision can be improved by
photoreceptor cell transplantation and how effectively they can replace degenerating cells at different stages of disease. A lot more basic research needs to be carried out. But this is a very promising area that we hope will translate into a future treatment for patients who cannot see because their photoreceptors have degenerated.”
Published online ahead of print at http://hmg.
oxfordjournals.org, September 2010
genetic cause found for migraine
A genetic defect that causes typical migraine has been identified by researchers at the MRC Functional Genomics Unit at the University of Oxford. Working with colleagues in Canada, the scientists studied DNA samples from families with common migraine and
identified a genetic defect in one family. They discovered that the gene that encodes the
‘TRESK’ ion channel is present in key parts of the of brain involved in migraine
development, such as the trigeminal ganglion.
The genetic defect results in TRESK not working properly and this causes nerves in brain regions such as the trigeminal ganglion to become activated, leading to a migraine attack. Before now, no genetic cause for migraine had been identified. The research was funded by the MRC, Genome Canada, Genome Quebec, Emerillon Therapeutics, the Wellcome Trust and Pfizer. The MRC’s Dr Zameel Cader, who led the research, explained: “Previous studies have identified parts of our DNA that increase the risk in the general population but have not found genes which can be directly responsible for typical migraine. What we’ve found is that migraines seem to depend on how sensitive our nerves are in the sensory centres of the brain. This finding should help lead to the key player which controls this excitability and will give us a real opportunity to find a new way to fight migraines and improve the quality of life for those suffering.”
Published online ahead of print at www.nature.com/nm, September 2010
ReseaRCH RouNDup continued
scorpion has welcome sting for heart bypass patients
A toxin called margatoxin found in the venom of the Central American bark scorpion (Centruroides margaritatus) could hold the key to reducing heart bypass failures, according to research partly funded by the MRC. Scientists at the University of Leeds have found that margatoxin is at least 100 times more potent at preventing neointimal hyperplasia – the most common cause of bypass graft failure – than any other known compound. Neointimal hyperplasia is the growth of new cells inside the blood vessel in response to injury. When a vein is grafted onto the heart during a bypass procedure, the injury response kicks in as the vein tries to adapt. Such internal cell growth restricts blood flow and ultimately causes the graft to fail. Margatoxin works by inhibiting the activity of a the potassium ion channel Kv1.3 in the cell membrane, which opens and closes in response to electrical signals and indirectly enhances delivery of an intracellular messenger, the calcium ion. Lead author Professor David Beech explains: “Since our own studies had identified Kv1.3’s presence in injured blood vessels, which are also often complicated by chronic inflammation, we wanted to see if the same immune system blockers would inhibit neointimal hyperplasia.
There were a number of good blockers of this ion channel available to screen, but
margatoxin was the most potent of all these compounds by a significant margin.” The scientists believe margatoxin could potentially be taken forward as a spray-on treatment to the vein itself once it’s been
removed and is waiting to be grafted onto the heart.
Published online ahead of print at http://cardiovascres.
oxfordjournals.org
Fetal growth patterns influence childhood asthma and allergy risk
A child’s chances of developing allergies or wheezing is related to how they grow at vital stages in the womb, according to MRC- funded scientists at the University of Southampton. The research, also supported by the British Lung Foundation, studied more than 1,500 three year-old children who were taking part in the Southampton Women’s Survey, a large study of women and their children. The team discovered that 27 per cent of children who had developed quickly in early pregnancy but faltered later in
pregnancy were sensitive to common allergens (atopy), compared to 4 per cent of children who grew at a normal rate. A combination of allergy and wheezing conditions was also much more likely in children with the rapid-slow growth pattern in the womb. The scientists believe this is due to changes in the development of these childrens’ immune systems and lungs. A fetus that grows too slowly in the womb is also more likely to become an infant who wheezes with common colds, possibly as a result of narrower airways in his or her lungs. Professor Keith Godfrey, Professor of Epidemiology and Human Development at the University of Southampton and lead author of the study, said: “Childhood allergies and asthma have become an epidemic in developed countries over the last 50 years. This research shows that in order to combat this, we need to understand more about how babies develop in the womb.”
Published online ahead of print at http://
thorax.bmj.com, october 2010
youR FEEDBACK
Network is for anyone who has an interest in the work of the MRC, including scientists, doctors and health professionals involved in medical research, government departments and parliamentarians, and university staff and students. The aim is to provide a quick, easy-to-read summary of activities across the MRC, from research news through to funding, grant schemes and policy issues, with pointers to more in-depth information on websites and in other publications.
We are very keen to receive feedback on Network and suggestions for new features from our readers. So if you have any comments, please let us know. Just email:
[email protected] Network is produced by the MRC publications team. A limited number of copies are available in print. Network can also be downloaded as a PDF at:
www.mrc.ac.uk/network
IMages
Cover: © iStockphoto
Page 2: © iStockphoto (swimmers/migraine/scorpion) Page 3: © Noel Murphy (test tubes)
Page 4: © iStockphoto Page 8: CDC / F. A. Murphy Page 9: © Noel Murphy
Page 12-15: © CDC / Jeff Hageman, M.H.S. / Janice Haney Carr (MRSA)
Page 14: © iStockphoto
Page 16: © iStockphoto (MRI); © CDC / Lois S. Wiggs / Janice Carr (C. difficile)
Page: 16-18: © Nephron, from Wikimedia Commons Page 17: © iStockphoto; © Omikron / Science Photo Library (retina rods and cones)
Page 18: © iStockphoto
Medical Research Council 20 Park Crescent London W1B 1AL
Tel: 020 7636 5422, Fax: 020 7436 6179
www.mrc.ac.uk
MRC people
DIaRy
professor sir David weatherall has been awarded the US Lasker prize for 50 years of research into genetic diseases of the blood. Sir David
established the Institute of Molecular Medicine at Oxford University in 1989, which was renamed the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine when he retired in 2000 (now the MRC WIMM).
The accolade recognises Sir David’s research contribution to improve care for thousands of children with the blood disease thalassaemia. The Lasker Awards, established in 1945, recognise the contributions of scientists, doctors and public servants across the world who have made major advances in the
understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of human disease. Sir David is the only person from outside the US to be honoured with the Lasker award this year.
symposium marks retirement of leading Cambridge scientist
A symposium on DNA, cells and cancer was held in September to celebrate the career of Professor Ron Laskey, former director of the MRC Cancer Cell Unit in Cambridge.
Ron, who retired as director earlier this year, is
internationally recognised for his work on the control of DNA replication and the cell cycle. He has been awarded many prestigious prizes for his achievements, including the Royal Society’s Royal Medal. Alongside his scientific successes, the symposium offered a personal perspective on his career from many of the event’s speakers who had worked with Ron as students or postdoctoral researchers.
Dr Ashok Venkitaraman, the current director of the MRC Cancer Cell Unit, praised Ron’s outstanding contribution towards linking basic and clinical research by providing supportive scientific environments where relevant collaborations could develop. He said: “Ron’s establishment of the unit almost 10 years ago was a key example of this contribution, and his foresight in this area has resulted in some outstanding scientific research which has not only elucidated many aspects of how cancer cells behave, but also delivered tangible improvements to the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.”
Ron Laskey
Brighton science Festival
The next annual Brighton Science Festival takes place from 19 February to 6 March 2011. With events and activities for all ages across the city and surrounding area, the festival is a great opportunity for scientists to take their research out to the public and get people interested in science. MRC scientists interested in running an activity or event should contact Erika Doyle, Regional Communications Manager (London & South East), on 020 7670 4940 or by emailing [email protected]. For more information visit www.brightonscience.com
National science and engineering week 2011
Next year’s National Science and Engineering Week runs from the 11 to 20 March 2011 and the theme is communication. From Morse Code to social media, neurons to body behaviour, communication can encompass a wide variety of different topics and subthemes. Scientists who think they have what it takes to enthuse the public about their research are invited to get their thinking caps on to come up with event or activity ideas. For advice on developing public
engagement activities at your unit, centre or institute contact your MRC Regional Communications Manager. For more information on NSEW, visit www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/Nsew
Opinion will be back in the January/
February 2011 issue of Network.
