Medical Research Council2005年年度報告.pdf

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1、Annual Reportand Accounts2004/05Medical Research CouncilAnnual Report and Accounts 2004/05Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State,and by the Comptrollerand Auditor General in pursuance of Schedule 1,Sections 2(2)and 3(3)of the Science and Technology Act 1965.Sir Anthony CleaverChairmanProf

2、essor Colin BlakemoreDeputy Chairman and Chief ExecutiveOrdered by the House of Commons to be printed on London:The Stationery Office19 July 2005.Price:16.00HC 316The MRCThe Medical Research Council(MRC)was set up in 1913 to administer public funds provided for medicalresearch.It was incorporated un

3、der its present title by Royal Charter in 1920.A supplemental charterwasgranted in 1993 describing the MRCs new mission following the 1993 Government White Paper onScience and Technology.The MRCs Royal Charter and Mission were amended in July 2003.The MRCreceives an annual grant-in-aid from Parliame

4、nt through the Office of Science and Technology(OST)andfunds from other sources including government departments,international agencies,industry and medicalresearch charities.The MRCs strategic aims are developed in consultation with stakeholders and with reference to themission enshrined in the MRC

5、 Charter and to the objectives set out in the Governments Science Budgetallocations for the period 2003/04 to 2005/06.They also contribute to the OST Public Service Agreementtarget of improving the international performance of the UKs science and engineering base,exploitation ofthe UK science base,a

6、nd the innovation performance of the UK economy.The MRCs mission is to:Encourage and support high-quality research with the aim of improving human health.Produce skilled researchers,and to advance and disseminate knowledge and technology to improvethe quality of life and economic competitiveness in

7、the UK.Promote dialogue with the public about medical research.This Annual Report describes the MRCs progress between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2005 in meetingour strategic aims set out in the MRC Strategic Plan 20042007 and the objectives set out in theGovernments Science Budget allocations for the

8、 period.A selection of outstanding achievements by MRCscientists during the year is highlighted in the MRC Annual Review 2004/05.For more information about MRC activities and to view MRC publications,visit www.mrc.ac.uk.MRC Council members 2004/05The role of the MRCs Council is to decide on all issu

9、es of major corporate importance.These are principally issues ofcorporate strategy,objectives and targets or relating to the use of resources and personnel issues,including keyappointments.Council members share collective responsibility for the MRCs actions and performance.Responsibility forimplemen

10、ting the Councils strategy and decisions is delegated to the Chief Executive,Professor Colin Blakemore.Sir Anthony CleaverChairmanProfessor Colin BlakemoreDeputy Chairman and Chief ExecutiveDr David ArmstrongKings College LondonDr E Mac ArmstrongScottish Executive Health DepartmentProfessor Kay Davi

11、esUniversity of OxfordProfessor Sally Davies*Department of HealthProfessor Carol Dezateux*Institute of Child Health,University College LondonDr Peter FellnerVernalis plcMr Derek FlintNon-executive Director of Alliance&LeicesterInsurance plcDr Ruth HallChief Medical Officer,The National Assembly for

12、WalesProfessor Andrew McMichael*John Radcliffe Hospital,OxfordMr John Neilson*Office of Science and Technology,observerProfessor Alan NorthUniversity of ManchesterProfessor Genevra RichardsonQueen Mary and Westfield College,University ofLondonProfessor John SavillUniversity of EdinburghProfessor Her

13、b Sewell*University of NottinghamProfessor Michael Wakelam*University of Birmingham*New member appointed 1 August 2004*New member appointed 1 February 2005Outgoing membership:Sir William Castell*Amersham plcProfessor Dick Denton*University of BristolDr Chris Henshall*Office of Science and Technology

14、,observerProfessor Ian MacLennan*University of BirminghamProfessor Sir John Pattison*Department of HealthProfessor Dame Nancy Rothwell*University of Manchester*Appointment ended on 31 July 2004*Appointment ended on 31 December 2004ContentsForeword from the Chairman and the Chief Executive2Executive

15、summary4Research 7Spending Review priorities 7Changes to corporate scientific strategy and evaluation 8Major research developments and partnerships 8Cross-cutting initiatives 14Supporting research excellence 14International 18Publication output indicators 19Investment in people 21Human resources 21T

16、raining 22Technology transfer 25MRC Technology 25Technology transfer indicators 27Public engagement 31Engaging with the public 31Communicating the work of the MRC 32Parliamentary 33Operational 35Good research practice and ethics 35Effective business practice 37Financial summary 41Annual Accounts 200

17、4/05 45Contents1Consolidation and strategic planning for the decadeahead have been major themes for the MRC this year,particularly in view of the changes that the MRC made toits funding schemes and decision-making bodies at theend of 2003/04.Our intention was to create simpler andmore flexible fundi

18、ng options for researchers and to setup the structures needed for strategic development ofthe MRCs research portfolio,informed by the views andcapacity of the research community.After just one yearwe are pleased to be able to report some rewardingsigns of progress on both these fronts.The new grant

19、schemes have been well received by thescientific community,with application rates increasingthree-fold over last year.The increase in demand islargely due to the flexibility of the new Research Grant,which offers support of between one and five years orlonger.The amount of funding that the MRC madea

20、vailable and committed to new grants was almostdouble that of 2003/04 and this enabled us to maintainthe proportion of the highest-quality applications that wewere able to fund.The New Investigator Award,designedto help young scientists achieve a place on the researchcareer ladder,also proved popula

21、r.We receivedapplications from 140 candidates,many of which were ofa very promising calibre,and were able to make 24awards.We plan to expand this scheme in 2005/06.In July the MRC welcomed the Governments long-termcommitment to British science demonstrated by its 10-year Investment Framework for Sci

22、ence and Innovation.The framework provides the context for a proposed 5.8per cent per annum increase in public funding of science,which is of course excellent news for medical research.We ensured that our strategic thinking and planningduring the year complemented the Governmentslongterm ambitions f

23、or science,which led to anadditional 90m for the MRC in the 2004 SpendingReview.25m of this funding is earmarked to enable us to increase our support for clinical research andexperimental medicine,including promoting thetranslation of research results into clinical practice.Ofcourse,we remain commit

24、ted to supporting basicresearch,from which the treatments of the future willoriginate,and we shall be monitoring carefully the ratioof basic to translational research funding.Another portion of our additional funds will allow us toprovide 80 per cent of the full economic cost of researchgrants for a

25、pplications received after 1 September 2005 a direct and tangible benefit for university scientiststhroughout the UK.And to help build the UKs nextgeneration of medical research leaders,we will be using8m to take forward the recommendations of theRoberts Review.To increase coordinated working betwee

26、n public fundersof medical research,the MRC and the HealthDepartments have formed a Joint Health Delivery Groupthat is now drawing up a delivery plan for healthresearch.The new UK Clinical Research Collaboration,involving the NHS,academic medicine,funders,representatives from industry and patients,i

27、s another keyexample of our work with partners during the year.Wehave been collaborating with our UKCRC partners on amulti-million pound initiative to provide a major boost toUK experimental medicine,with the aim of developingForeward2Foreword from the Chairman and the Chief ExecutiveSir Anthony Cle

28、averChairmanProfessor Colin BlakemoreDeputy Chairman and Chief Executivenew treatments for patients and new approaches toprevention.The NIMR Task Force,which has been developingproposals for the future of the MRC National Institutefor Medical Research,completed its work in July 2004.When assessing t

29、he Task Forces final report,the MRCsCouncil decided that it had put forward a compelling andconvincing vision for the future of the Institute as amultidisciplinary biomedical research facility focused onbasic and translational research.In February 2005 theCouncil selected University College London a

30、s thepreferred partner.A business plan is now beingdeveloped by the NIMR,University College and MRChead office.Other major investments this year included theestablishment of the MRC Cambridge Centre for StemCell Biology and Medicine,established in partnership withthe Juvenile Diabetes Research Found

31、ation International.The centre will generate new insights into basic biologyunderpinning the development of stem cell treatmentsfor diabetes and diseases of the brain,includingParkinsons disease and multiple sclerosis.July 2004 saw another landmark for UK stem cell science,when the health minister o

32、fficially opened the UK StemCell Bank at the National Institute for BiologicalStandards and Control.The opening day coincided withthe deposit of the UKs first two human embryonic stemcell lines,developed by researchers at Kings CollegeLondon and at the Centre for Life in Newcastle.We are pleased to

33、report another highly successful yearin innovation and knowledge transfer.Cash income fromlicensing increased substantially,from 15.2m in 2003/04to 28.5m in 2004/05 largely the result of higherroyalty income under patent licences in antibodyengineering and humanised antibodies.In December2004,the MR

34、Cs Council approved plans for the creationof a Drug Development Group.This major initiative willspan the full range of research fields funded by the MRC,including neglected disease areas that the pharmaceuticalindustry considers to be too high-risk.MRC spin-outcompanies flourished;for example,in Mar

35、ch 2005 ArdanaLtd was floated directly on the London Stock Exchange.Public engagement continued to feature prominently inthe MRCs work during 2004/05.Many of our scientiststook part in National Science Week,the BritishAssociation Festival,Cheltenham Science Festival,theEdinburgh International Scienc

36、e Festival and BrainAwareness Week at the Dana Centre at LondonsScience Museum.This year we introduced a small grantscheme to support our scientists activities duringNational Science Week.As a result,we funded proposalsfor an interactive exhibition on the senses at ManchesterMuseum and a series of m

37、icrobiology workshops forschool children,in partnership with the Biotechnologyand Biological Sciences Research Council and the NaturalEnvironment Research Council.As the MRC embarks on implementing the strategicplans developed during 2004/05,we would like to thankthe many external partners and stake

38、holders who haveinformed our thinking.We look forward to seeing ourjoint endeavours bear fruit,bringing major benefits forhealth and quality of life both in the UK and throughoutthe world.Foreward3ChairmanDeputy Chairman and Chief ExecutiveExecutive summarySupport for researchThe MRC spent 251m(222.

39、6m resource and 28.4m capital)on intramural support.The MRCs total spend on grants for research in universities and teaching hospitals was 134.1m.A major focus during 2004/05 was the development of a renewed strategy for clinical research and public health.MRC units and institutes published over 2,0

40、00 papers in peer-reviewed journals in the calendar year 2004.The MRC spent 50.4m on training awards for postgraduate students and fellows(intramural and extramural).PartnershipsThe MRC played a central role in the UK Clinical Research Collaboration(UKCRC),which aims to speed up thetranslation of sc

41、ientific discovery into improved healthcare.We set up the Clinical Research Advisory Group todevelop recommendations on ways to deliver the clinical research agenda and to guide the MRCs role in theUKCRC.The MRC joined forces with the Health Departments to form a Joint Health Delivery Group,to incre

42、ase thecoordination of medical research between public sector funders.PeopleThe MRC currently employs more than 4,000 people,working in the UK and overseas.We are making good progress towards Investors in People accreditation.The MRC completed work on equality proofing its pay systems and began work

43、 on redesigning its system forrewarding people,with the aim of being more responsive to individual performance and specialisation.We introduced the new Doctoral Training Account system for funding postgraduate studentships in universities andin MRC units and institutes in October 2004,with the aim o

44、f increasing flexibility over stipend levels and durationof awards.Technology transferExploitation income(excluding interest)increased significantly from the level of the previous two years:27.3m(compared to 14.3m in 2003/04 and 15.1m in 2002/03).Seventeen new patent applications were filed and 26 n

45、ew licensing agreements were signed.In line with our objective of translating cutting-edge biology into treatments and medicines,a Drug DiscoveryGroup was established within the commercial environment of MRC Technologys laboratory facilities.Public engagementThe MRC completed a major reputation audi

46、t among external stakeholders and the public,the results of which willshape the MRCs communication strategy for 2005/06 and beyond.The MRCs Council held its first open meeting in Manchester in February 2005.More than 100 people attendedthe event,including university researchers,service users and rep

47、resentatives of patient organisations.We introduced a small grants scheme to encourage and support MRC scientists involvement in public engagement.We continued to seek the publics views on medical research through an Advisory Group on Public Involvement.Executive summary4OperationalThe MRC continued

48、 to provide ethical guidance to researchers,for example on medical research involving peoplein developing societies and children,and to make input into relevant government bills and regulations,including theHuman Tissue Bill and the EU Clinical Trials Directive.We initiated a project in August 2004

49、to look radically at how the MRC could deliver administrative functionsmore efficiently with the aim of generating cash savings to route to research funding.The MRC successfully implemented electronic records management at its head office at the end of 2004.We rolled out training and produced guidan

50、ce for staff in readiness for the full implementation of the Freedom ofInformation Act 2000 on 1 January 2005.FinanceThe MRCs expenditure limit(domestic and EU)for 2004/05 was 427.1m(406.6m in 2003/04).The MRCs total expenditure for 2004/05(excluding expenditure from the Commercial Fund)was 476.4m(4

51、73.4m in 2003/04).Executive summary5ResearchResearchThe MRCs strategic objectives for research:To invest in high-quality research relating to human health.To fund partnerships and promote collaboration.To promote the translation of research into practice,including disseminating information,providing

52、 scientific adviceand facilitating implementation within health service policy and practice.Government Science Budget research objectives:To continue to improve the excellence,relevance and impact of the knowledge created from ResearchCouncilfunded programmes.To increase research capability and inte

53、rnational competitiveness of the UK in new strategic areas.To increase the dynamism and flexibility of Research Council programmes to respond to changing requirementsand opportunities,and to support effectively multidisciplinary research,new researchers and higher-risk researchproposals.To maintain

54、access for scientists working in the UK to the necessary major facilities,databases and supportinglaboratory infrastructure that will enable them to deliver world-class research.Spending Review prioritiesSpending Review 2002(SR2002)The MRCs progress with the SR2002-specific initiatives isreported un

55、der the relevant sections in Major researchdevelopments and partnerships(page 8).Our spend oneach of the four initiatives in 2004/05 was:genomics 0.43m;e-Science 0.23m;stem cell science 3.23m;and brain science 1.90m.We also spent 1.34m onimplementing the recommendations of the RobertsReview to incre

56、ase the attractiveness of careers inscientific research(see Training,page 22).Spending Review 2004(SR2004)In March 2005,the Government announced the allocationof funds to each of the Research Councils(RCs)underits 2004 Spending Review(SR2004).The allocationcovers the financial years 2006/07 and 2007

57、/08;2005/06is the last year of the previous Spending Review,and isthe base year for SR2004.As well as resource and capitalallocations,there is earmarked funding within the LargeFacilities Capital Fund.The delivery plan and performancemanagement frameworkThe MRC along with the other RCs was required

58、todevelop a delivery plan as part of the SR2004 allocationprocess,setting out how the MRC will contributetowards the Office of Science and Technologys(OST)Public Service Agreement target of improving the relativeperformance of the UK research base and of the UKeconomy.The MRC Delivery Plan,published

59、 in May2005,gives details of the MRCs spending priorities overthe SR2004 period,and is a key part of a newperformance management framework through which theMRC will be held accountable for the extent to whichdeliverables are achieved.The plan takes account of theUK Clinical Research Collaboration(UK

60、CRC)/JointHealth Delivery Group agenda,as well as the MRCs ownvision and strategic priorities.Research 7Changes to corporate scientificstrategy and evaluationDuring 2004/05 the MRC made major changes to itsfunding schemes and decision-making bodies to providethe community with more flexible funding

61、options andspeedier decision-making.We also wanted to achievegreater transparency in the way we develop our researchstrategy,including increased consultation with thescientific community.Here are some of the key changes:Most funding decisions are now taken by MRCresearch boards and panels.Although a

62、ll of the MRCs research boards remainresponsibile for clinical science in their researchareas,the Physiological Systems and Clinical SciencesBoard now leads the general promotion oftranslational research.The work of MRC units and institutes is nowintegrated into the research boardsscientific portfol

63、ios.MRC research boards the new structureThere are now five MRC research boards,all of whichhave increased ownership of their scientific portfolios andmake decisions about which applications to fund:Molecular and Cellular Medicine BoardPhysiological Systems and Clinical Sciences BoardInfections and

64、Immunity BoardNeurosciences and Mental Health BoardHealth Services and Public Health Research BoardIn addition,the MRC has set up a Strategy PortfolioOverview Group for each board.In 2004/05,their firstyear of operation,these groups focused on mapping theboards research portfolios and analysing supp

65、ort for thefive main scientific areas.College of ExpertsIn February 2004 the MRCs Council agreed that theMRC Advisory Board should be replaced by a College ofExperts.The college is made up of a group of more than600 reviewers,selected to provide expertise in each ofthe research boards scientific are

66、as.The MRC will holdannual regional meetings for members,starting insummer 2005.It is also exploring ways of widening thecolleges role,possibly by inviting members to take part inboard-related activities.Major research developments andpartnershipsThis section highlights the MRCs new and ongoingpartn

67、erships with other RCs,government departmentsand research charities,and the contribution they make tothe MRCs research objectives.Industrial partnerships arecovered in Technology transfer(page 25),and jointcommunications activities in Public engagement(page 31).Research8Molecular and cellular medici

68、neEstimated gross spend in 2004/05 180.8mThe MRC Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board fundsresearch into:cancer biology,genetic mechanisms,methodology development for gene therapy,bioinformatics,biotechnology and structural studies,nanotechnology,cell biology,and developmental and stemcell biology

69、excluding neurobiology.Structural biology/structural genomics:in October 2004RCUK endorsed the science case for a research complexalongside the new synchrotron(DIAMOND)in Harwell,Oxfordshire.This new facility will ensure that biomedical,biological and physical scientists in the UK are able toexploit

70、 the opportunities that DIAMOND offers.Across-Council coordinating group,chaired by the MRC,isnow developing the business case.Functional proteomics call for proposals:the MRCreceived funding from the SR2002 settlement to supporthigh-quality research in proteomics.A call for proposalswas issued in O

71、ctober 2003;72 outline proposals werereceived and 21 full proposals were invited.In April 2004 nine applications were funded with a total value of 5.7m.Figure 1:MRC gross spend by scientific area in 2004/05Health Services and Public Health Research 61.9m(13%)Neurosciences andMental Health 82.1m(17%)

72、Infections and Immunity 77.3m(16%)Physiological Systems and ClinicalSciences 72.6m(15%)Molecular andCellular Medicine 180.8m(39%)39%15%16%17%13%Bioinformatics:in partnership with the Wellcome Trustand with support from the Biotechnology and BiologicalSciences Research Council(BBSRC),the MRC hasprovi

73、ded 1m for the expansion of the EuropeanBioinformatics Institute.This funding will furtherstrengthen the Institutes research programmes and itsincreasingly important role in academic and industrialresearch and training.RCUK Basic Technology programme:launched in 2001,the Basic Technology research pr

74、ogramme aims tocontribute to building a generic technology base that canbe adapted to a diverse range of scientific researchproblems and challenges spanning the interests of all theRCs.As a multidisciplinary approach is important in thedevelopment of basic technology,the programmerequires cooperatio

75、n and collaboration betweenresearchers in different fields.By the end of 2004/05 theprogramme had awarded a total of 88m to 33 projects.In addition,19 feasibility/network studies totalling 2mhave been funded.Twenty per cent of these grants relateto MRC-funded research.Stem cell research:during the y

76、ear the MRC continuedto develop strategies and priorities for stem cell researchand banking,working closely with key stakeholdersincluding other RCs,charities,industry,the HealthDepartments(HDs),the Human Fertilisation andEmbryology Authority(HFEA),and the Medicines andHealthcare Products Regulatory

77、 Agency.For the MRCthis work included global coordination of theInternational Stem Cell Forum,chaired by Professor ColinBlakemore.The forum held its fourth meeting inNovember 2004 in Montreal,where issues addressedincluded characterisation of stem cell lines,ethics,intellectual property rights and i

78、mproved networking(seealso International,page 18 and Training,page 22).Together with the Department of Health(DoH),wehave provided funding to help five in vitro fertilisationclinics to upgrade their facilities to good manufacturingpractice(GMP)standard.This will enable stem cellresearchers to use do

79、nated tissue to derive embryonicstem cell lines that will be fit for therapeutic purposes.UK Stem Cell Bank:May 2004 saw the official openingof the UK Stem Cell Bank.The first of its kind in theworld,the bank is funded by the MRC and the BBSRCand hosted by the National Institute for BiologicalStanda

80、rds and Control(NIBSC)at South Mimms,Hertfordshire.It stores,characterises and suppliesethically approved,quality-controlled stem cell linesderived from embryonic,fetal and adult tissue.These cell lines are for use in research into radically new ways oftreating serious disease and injury.During 2004

81、/05 stemcell lines were deposited by researchers at Kings CollegeLondon,the universities of Newcastle,Edinburgh,Sheffield and Harvard,and an Australian researchestablishment.National Cancer Research Institute:Dr Brian Clark wasappointed Chief Operating Officer for the NationalCancer Tissue Resource

82、during 2004.See section 4.3.1 of the MRC Operating Report 2004/05 forprogress against Molecular and cellular medicine targets inthe MRC Operating Plan 2004/05.Physiological systems and clinical sciencesEstimated gross spend in 2004/05 72.6mThis area of medical research investigates non-infectiousdis

83、eases such as diabetes,obesity,heart disease and highblood pressure,and asthma many of the leading causesof death and ill-health in the UK.It covers basic andclinical research into these diseases and into the normaland diseased states of every part of the human body.Thestudies we fund range from app

84、lied nutrition research towaste product and toxin excretion,hormone function,reproductive health and pregnancy,and the effects ofdrugs and hazardous environmental agents.Research into diagnosis and treatment is also covered bythis area,including medical imaging,anaesthesia andsurgery,intensive care,

85、molecular medicine and genetherapy.The Physiological Systems and Clinical SciencesBoard plays a leading role in promoting translational andclinical research,through which scientific discoveries aretranslated into innovations in healthcare.The number of applications to the board rose significantlydur

86、ing the year,from 12 in May 2004 to 96 in January2005.Asthma susceptibility gene:in October 2004,the MRCawarded funding to Professor Holgate and colleagues(Southampton)to study the cell biology of ADAM33protein in predisposition to drug-resistant disease.Additional studies will investigate the funct

87、ion ofADAM33 in childhood asthma.Integrative physiology:in May 2004 the MRC and theWellcome Trust held the first of a series of workshops inkey strategic areas.The objectives were to enable thetwo funding agencies to gain advice from stakeholders ondeveloping a strategy for encouraging integrativeph

88、ysiology research,and to encourage networkingResearch9between basic,clinical,molecular and physiologicalscientists.The 60 participants included senior scientistsand representatives of industry,the Physiological Society,the British Pharmacological Society and charities.A reportis to be published on t

89、he MRC website during 2005.Diabetes:in December 2004 the MRC confirmed amulti-million pound investment in new researchprogrammes on obesity,diabetes and osteoporosis,aspart of a major new initiative in epidemiology.The keyaim is to help prevent conditions such as diabetes andobesity by developing in

90、tegrated,collaborative researchprogrammes that explore the genetic and environmentalfactors at play in the development of such conditionsfrom before birth and throughout adulthood.Theprogrammes will be led by the new MRC EpidemiologyUnit in Cambridge(Director,Dr Nick Wareham)and theMRC Epidemiology

91、Resource Centre in Southampton(Director,Professor Cyrus Cooper).Reproduction:the MRC was approached by the HFEAto review the scientific evidence for potential healtheffects of new and existing assisted reproductiontechnologies(ART).A working group was set upcomprising scientific experts,ethicists,co

92、nsumeradvocates and representatives from the HFEA and the DoH.In November 2004 the working grouppublished its report.Entitled Assisted Reproduction;a safe,sound future,it highlighted the need for improvedmonitoring and evaluation of ART.See section 4.3.2 of the MRC Operating Report 2004/05 forprogre

93、ss against Physiological systems and clinical sciencestargets in the MRC Operating Plan 2004/05.Infections and immunityEstimated gross spend in 2004/05 77.3mThe MRC invests in research to understand how thehuman immune system works,how it fights disease,andwhat happens in autoimmune and inflammatory

94、 diseases,such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.An important part of the work involves research oninfectious diseases such as AIDS,tuberculosis andmalaria.Much of this research is translational,aiming toimprove treatment through new and improved vaccinesand drugs.Funders Forum for heal

95、th research in developingcountries:the UKs three main funders of health researchin developing countries agreed in 2004 to form aFunders Forum to coordinate the UK response to globalinitiatives in health and to give greater strategiccoherence to diseases of poverty.The members currentlycomprise the W

96、ellcome Trust,the Department forInternational Development(DFID)and the MRC.Members are committed to exchanging information onindividual strategies and policies,to consideropportunities for joint funding of new initiatives and topromote opportunities to get research into policy andpractice.The forum

97、met first in October 2004 and thenagain in January 2005.In November 2004 the forumhosted a meeting of the UK research community workingon HIV vaccines to discuss strategies for the UKdeveloping an accelerated HIV vaccine strategy thatwould contribute to the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise.Anglo-French

98、 alliance:the MRC is a founding member ofthe Anglo-French Alliance for Tropical Medicine,togetherwith the Wellcome Trust and the DFID.Frenchorganisations include the Institut National de la Sant etde la Recherche Mdicale(INSERM),Centre National dela Recherche Scientifique(CNRS),lInstitut de Recherch

99、epour le Dveloppement(IRD),and the Institut Pasteur.The activities are coordinated through the Science andTechnology Service of the French Embassy in London.In May 2004 the alliance sponsored a collaborativeworkshop on bioinformatics in Dakar,Senegal.The five-day workshop was based on a course prepa

100、red by theWellcome Trust Sanger Institute and was well subscribedby African researchers.The course was of particularrelevance to research on disease-causing microorganisms,and three students from the MRC Laboratories,TheGambia,and one from the MRC Unit on AIDS,Uganda,attended.The alliance is prepari

101、ng to provide a workshopon clinical trials for January 2006.Development of the MRC Laboratories,Fajara,TheGambia:in May 2004 the MRC approved a 2.6minvestment to complete a phased series of improvementsthat were initiated in 1996 at the MRC Laboratories inThe Gambia.The first stage of the Fajara sit

102、edevelopment is the plan to provide a modern laboratoryinfrastructure to enable the unit to maintain a world-classresearch environment and attract and retain the highestcalibre scientists.A second development is the relocationof the clinical wards,the outpatients department,and anumber of clinics to

103、 improve security on the site andprovide better access for the 600800 people who usethe clinical facilities daily.The development will alsoprovide much needed accommodation for visiting PhDstudents and training fellows.Pneumococcal vaccine trial:in February 2005,aninternational steering committee co

104、nsidered theoutcomes of the trial of 9-valent conjugateResearch10pneumococcal vaccine in infants in rural Gambia that theMRC has conducted in partnership with the LondonSchool of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.Pneumonia isestimated to cause almost two million deaths each yearin children,and Streptoco

105、ccus pneumoniae is the mostimportant cause of severe pneumonia.The trial,whichinvolved vaccinating 17,000 children,had internationalsupport from the US National Institutes of Health(NIH),the World Health Organization,the Programme forAppropriate Technology in Health,and the US Agency forInternationa

106、l Development.The results showed that thethe vaccine has high efficacy against pneumonia andinvasive pneumococcal disease,and can significantlyreduce hospital admissions and improve child survival.The challenge now is to work with partners to findinnovative ways to ensure that such a vaccine can bem

107、ade available to African infants.Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research(EJIVR):the EJIVR sponsors(the MRC,GlaxoSmithKline,the DoHand the BBSRC)conducted a review of the currentprogrammes at the EJIVR,the outcome of whichinformed the EJIVR Board in developing future plans andoffering four Jenne

108、r fellowships,to run from November2005.The EJIVR Board is seeking to establish a newinstitute in partnership with Oxford University and theBBSRC Institute of Animal Health,which will build on thework of these four team leaders.The new institute willhave a mission to develop a strong translational re

109、searchfocus.See section 4.3.3 of the MRC Operating Report 2004/05 forprogress against Infections and immunity targets in the MRCOperating Plan 2004/05.Neurosciences and mental healthEstimated gross spend in 2004/05 82.1mThis area of the MRCs scientific portfolio coversresearch on the biology of the

110、brain and the nervoussystem in normal and diseased states.It leads todiscoveries that help enable scientists to develop newpreventive measures and treatments for neurologicaldisorders such as Parkinsons disease and Alzheimersdisease a growing concern given the UKs ageingpopulation and for conditions

111、 such as depression,schizophrenia,autism,addiction and antisocial behaviour.During the year the MRC worked with the other RCs,the DoH and several charities to complete a database ofneurosciences and mental health research in the UK,which will enable us to carry out more sophisticatedanalyses of MRC

112、research.Consultative strategy meeting:in January 2005 theboard organised a two-day meeting with representativesof the research community to inform its future strategicthinking on all areas of neuroscience research,trainingand infrastructure investments.More than 130 participantsspanning the breadth

113、 of areas covered by the board took part,with representation at a senior level fromuniversities,industry,MRC units and institutes,government departments,the NIH,charities andconsumer organisations.A report will be published onthe MRC website in June 2005.Brain sciences:the MRC completed a second cal

114、l forproposals to support innovative research projects with akey emphasis on neurodegeneration and mental health.The DoH contributed an additional 1m to help buildcapacity in applied mental health research,andparticipated in the assessment of these applications.Twenty-eight awards were made(15 Pathf

115、inders and 13Trial Platforms),worth 5.3m in total,to fund researchinto new ways of treating depression,anxiety,bulimia andbipolar disorder,biomarkers for the early detection ofAlzheimers disease,and risk factors and prevention.Several of the trials platforms will be supported by thenew Mental Health

116、 Research Network or will use itwhen they develop to full-scale trials.Mental health scoping study:in November 2004 thestudy working group submitted their report to the board.They had found that MRC funding for mental healthresearch had increased since 2000,mainly in clinical trials,and there were s

117、everal outstanding areas of strength inUK research.But,as in most other countries,the UKsspend in relation to burden of illness was low.Autism:the MRC funded six new projects during theyear in clinical psychology,neuroimaging,epidemiologyand psychosocial intervention.These awards were part ofthe ini

118、tiative to take forward the recommendations ofour 2001 review of autism research that is funded by2.75m from the DoH and the Chief Scientist Office inScotland and 0.4m from the MRC.Dementia research:the MRC,in collaboration with theDoH,the Department of Trade and Industry(DTI)andthe Alzheimers Socie

119、ty,hosted a stakeholders workshopon research in dementia in November 2004.Co-chairedby Professor Alan North(University of Manchester)andProfessor Clair Chilvers(DoH),the workshop highlightedthe UKs strengths and weaknesses in clinical dementiaresearch and opportunities for developing this area overt

120、he coming years.Research11The MRC also agreed to contribute US$1m to a majorNIH-led initiative involving US,Canadian and Irishfunders,aimed at identifying autism susceptibility genes.NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme:Professor Adrian Davis,formerly of the MRCs Institute ofHearing Research,comp

121、leted his move to the Universityof Manchester,from where his team is rolling out theNHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme.Thisscreening programme stemmed from epidemiologicalstudies,basic research,and technology developmentfunded by the MRC and will improve the early detectionof hearing impairment

122、 in newborn babies,and allowearlier and more effective treatment.Stroke research appointment of Professor AlastairBuchan:in 2004 Professor Alastair Buchan,previously ofthe University of Calgary,Canada,was awarded aprofessorship at Oxford University through the MRCStrategic Appointments Scheme.Profes

123、sor Buchan is aworld leader in the initial,very rapid assessment andmanagement of stroke victims and has developed animpressive basic research programme into experimentalmodels of stroke and its therapy.Prion disease:the Prion-1 trial,funded by the DoH anddeveloped with input from patient support gr

124、oups,formally began recruiting patients to a trial of the use ofquinacrine in treating prion disease on 1 May 2004.InMarch 2005,the MRC held a meeting with relatives ofpatients being treated with pentosan polysulphate,todevelop arrangements that will allow monitoring andevaluation of the treatment.B

125、ehavioural and clinical neurosciences:the MRC,working in partnership with the Wellcome Trust,hasagreed to co-fund a consortium in behavioural and clinicalneurosciences research at the University of Cambridge.The award integrates key neuroscience research groupsacross several university departments,t

126、he MRC Cognitionand Brain Sciences Unit and the Wolfson Brain ImagingCentre.The first jointly funded project of its type,it willfocus on translational research in behaviouralneurosciences,linking animal behaviour studies with basicresearch into human cognitive behaviour,and clinicalresearch into psy

127、chiatric disorders and dementias.Cognitive systems:following on from the GovernmentsForesight Cognitive Systems exercise,in July 2004 theMRC,the Wellcome Trust and other RCs launched ahighlight notice to encourage multidisciplinary proposalsin this area.The notice resulted in a steady stream ofexpre

128、ssions of interest and full proposals will bedeveloped during 2005/06.See section 4.3.4 of the MRC Operating Report 2004/05 forprogress against Neurosciences and mental health targets inthe MRC Operating Plan 2004/05.Health services and public health researchEstimated gross spend in 2004/05 61.9mOur

129、 long-term investment in health services and publichealth research is made through five MRC research units.In addition,a large proportion of the Health Services andPublic Health Research Board budget funds research inuniversities and hospitals.This work includes thedevelopment and evaluation of heal

130、thcare interventions;population-based aetiological studies with particularemphasis on environmental and psychosocial factors;implementation studies;and methodologicaldevelopments in health services research and publichealth research.Our public health research looks at the wider influenceson physical

131、 and mental well-being and ill-health;forexample,the biological,socio-economic,lifestyle andenvironmental factors at play throughout peoples lives.Itincludes all aspects of health promotion,diseaseprevention and healthcare provision.A key aim is tounderstand how and why ill-health varies within thep

132、opulation,and how to improve public health throughinterventions and improvements that address theseinequalities.The MRC conducts a wide portfolio of clinicaltrials that includes patients in every disease area and testsnew approaches to prevention,diagnosis and treatment.Public health research:MRC su

133、pport in 2004/05included new investments to develop its portfolio indeveloping methodologies that underpin clinical andpublic health studies.This support includes an award for468k to Dr Paula Williamson of Liverpool University todevelop statistical methodology for longitudinal studies inclinical res

134、earch.In the last year the MRC Sexual Health and HIV ScientificResearch Committee,with funding from the HealthDepartments,awarded 1.3m to research that is lookingat the management of patients with sexually transmittedinfections/HIV,service delivery options,and newapproaches to improving the health a

135、nd healthbehaviours of groups at risk.The MRC has awarded over 3m to Professor NeilMarlow(University of Nottingham)to support furtherfollow-up of the EPICure study of the childhooddevelopment of babies born at 25 weeks gestation orless.The study will help to inform clinical practice for suchResearch

136、12babies and inform parents and health and educationplanners of the needs of the extremely preterm child ashe or she grows up.It received national and internationalpublicity in 2004 and was the basis of a number oftelevision documentaries.Primary care research:Professor Irwin Nazareth took up his ap

137、pointment as Director of the MRC GeneralPractice Research Framework in January 2005.On thebasis of Professor Nazareths preliminary plans for theframework,the MRCs Council continued support from 1 April 2005 while the new Director develops hisproposals in the context of the evolving framework ofthe U

138、K Clinical Research Collaboration researchnetworks.Clinical trials:the MRC awarded 2.1m to fund the UKarm of an international trial to determine whetherpostoperative radiotherapy in women who are atintermediate risk of breast cancer improves survival ratesin these patients(the SUPREMO breast cancer

139、trial).Upto 3,700 UK patients will take part in the trialcoordinated by Dr Ian Kunkler(Western GeneralHospital,Edinburgh).Parallel studies will also look atquality of life issues and assess the risk of cardiac damageamong these patients.A further sub-study will examinetumour material collected from

140、them,with the aim ofidentifying proteins that may be associated with anincreased risk of local relapse and resistance to radiationtherapy.UK Biobank:the MRC has worked with the WellcomeTrust,the DoH and the Scottish Executive to continue todevelop the UK Biobank following its establishment as achari

141、table company limited by guarantee in November2003.The focus this year has been on developing thegovernance arrangements and central infrastructure tosupport the ongoing development of the scientificprotocol and ethical and governance policies.For moreinformation visit www.ukbiobank.ac.uk.In Novembe

142、r 2004,the funders of UK Biobankestablished an Ethics and Governance Council to ensurepublic accountability.Acting as an independent guardianof the ethical framework,the council will report publicly,with particular emphasis on how UK Biobank safeguardsthe interests of its participants and the wider

143、public.In July 2004 the UK Biobank Science Committeepublished a detailed report on sample handling andstorage on the UK Biobank website.Following extensivework on the study design and instruments,UK Biobankreceived ethical approval for the first stages of piloting inJanuary 2005.New Dynamics of Agei

144、ng:in spring 2005 the first call forproposals was announced by this cross-Council researchprogramme.The New Dynamics of Ageing is led by theEconomic and Social Research Council(ESRC)inpartnership with the Engineering and Physical SciencesResearch Council(EPSRC),the MRC and the BBSRC,anddirected by P

145、rofessor Alan Walker of the University ofSheffield.It was set up in 2003/04 to foster combinedinterdisciplinary approaches to research into olderpeoples health and well-being and the management ofage-related conditionse-Science initiative:in the SR2002 the MRC wasallocated a further 13.1m for e-Scie

146、nce which was usedto fund a call for proposals to undertake grid projectsthat would facilitate the design,management andcoordination of data relevant to clinical trials andlongitudinal studies across the MRC portfolio.Awardswere made to five large consortia-based grid projects,networked to cover the

147、 UK,and focused around cancer,mental health,primary care and clinical datamanagement for post-genomic research.The DoHprovided additional funds of 1m to co-fund the mentalhealth consortium in psychosis.National Prevention Research Initiative:in October2004 the National Prevention Research Initiative

148、(NPRI)was launched with a budget of 12m over five years.Thismultidisciplinary collaboration has been set up to helpprevent cancer,coronary heart disease and diabetes,byinfluencing health behaviours and by reducing risk fromtobacco use,alcohol misuse,physical inactivity and poordiet.There was an exce

149、llent response to the first call foroutline applications;the funding decisions will be made inNovember 2005.The MRC manages the NPRI on behalf of the otherpartners:the British Heart Foundation,Cancer ResearchUK,the DoH,Diabetes UK,the ESRC,the FoodStandards Agency,the Research and Development Office

150、for the Northern Ireland Health and Social Services,theChief Scientist Office,the Scottish Executive HealthDepartment,the Wales Office of Research andDevelopment and the World Cancer Research Fund.See section 4.3.5 of the MRC Operating Report 2004/05 forprogress against Health services and public he

151、alth researchtargets in the MRC Operating Plan 2004/05.Research13Cross-cutting initiativesUK Clinical Research Collaboration:the UK ClinicalResearch Collaboration(UKCRC)brings together theMRC,the HDs,the NHS,medical charities,patients andindustry to coordinate and transform clinical research,tohelp

152、speed up the translation of scientific discoveries intoimproved healthcare.The UKCRCs initial priorities are tobuild up the NHS research infrastructure and a skilledclinical research workforce,to streamline regulatory andgovernance processes,and to coordinate approachesbetween funding bodies.The par

153、tnership also aims toenhance career opportunities at all levels within clinicalresearch.These priorities match those that the MRC setout in its bid for 2004 Spending Review funding,toreinforce its commitment to clinical research,and theMRC is playing a central role in the UKCRC.Clinical Research Adv

154、isory Group:in April 2004,theMRC established the Clinical Research Advisory Group,asubgroup of its Council and chaired by Professor ColinBlakemore,to develop recommendations on ways todeliver the clinical research agenda and its position withinthe UKCRC.In February 2005 the MRCs Councildiscussed ini

155、tial proposals from the Clinical ResearchAdvisory Group,which included input from the MRCsresearch and training boards,unit directors and othergroups involved in shaping MRC strategy.The finalrecommendations were fed into the Councils discussionson implementing the Delivery Plan.Joint Health Deliver

156、y Group:when the Governmentpublished its 10-year Investment Framework for Scienceand Innovation in July 2004,it asked the MRC and the UKHDs to form a Joint Health Delivery Group to increasethe coordination of medical research between publicsector funders.The partners are now actively developinga del

157、ivery plan for health research.Earlier notableexamples of successful joint working between the MRCand the HDs include the MRC/DoH Primary CareResearch initiative,and joint fellowship schemes toencourage training and capacity development.DoH/MRC Primary Care Research InfrastructureWorking Party:the M

158、RC and the DoH set up thisfunders working group in 2004 to draw uprecommendations for maximising their collectiveinvestments in primary care research infrastructure,andto contribute to UKCRC objectives(see above).RCUK:in 2004/05 RCUK has focused on the 2004Spending Review and on developing its admin

159、istrationstrategy,designed to create a unified interface with theRCs key stakeholders and to deliver efficiency savings.Another major activity has been the development of anRC policy on open-access publishing and archiving.Aposition statement has been agreed for consultation withuniversities before

160、final publication.RCUK has also beenclosely involved in discussions about the 7th EUFramework Programme and proposals for a EuropeanResearch Council(see page 18).For more informationabout RCUKs activities during 2004/05 visitwww.rcuk.ac.uk.Government departments:examples of involvement withgovernmen

161、t departments in 2004/05 include work withthe DTI and the OST on technology strategy andknowledge transfer,and with the OST and the DoH onEU research programmes(FP6/FP7 and public health),and on EU policy with implications for UK research,suchas the directive on tissue and cell donation.We have also

162、worked closely with the HDs on expanding clinicalresearch and training,and have renewed our partnershipagreement with the departments.Medical charities:during 2004/05 the MRCspartnership activities with medical charities have includedexchanging information,exploring possibilities for jointfunding of

163、 clinical trials and fellowships,and holding jointworkshops.We have also had regular discussion with theAssociation of Medical Research Charities on issues ofmutual interest for example,clinical research andresearch involving animals.See section 4.6 of the MRC Operating Report 2004/05 forprogress ag

164、ainst Partnership and collaboration targets in theMRC Operating Plan 2004/05.Supporting research excellenceThe MRC is the only public funding agency in the UK thatcovers the whole spectrum of medical research,frombasic and translational research to the application of newtreatments.We achieve this by

165、:Securing the national medical research infrastructureover the long term,by funding existing facilities andestablishing new research centres in topics ofstrategic importance.Investing in training and employing scientists inuniversities and our own research centres.Funding research proposals by scien

166、tists who haveidentified scientific problems that need addressing.The main factors in our funding decisions are the qualityof the research and its potential significance in terms ofimproving human health.The proposals we receive areResearch14stringently reviewed by a core of scientific experts,inclu

167、ding our research boards and other external expertreferees both in the UK and abroad.Our annual researchexpenditure is split broadly between:Grants to researchers in universities and medicalschools,including training awards for postgraduatestudents and fellows;this amounted to 186.9m in2004/05.Fundi

168、ng for the MRCs own research institutes andunits,amounting to 251m in 2004/05.MRC grant funding schemesOn 13 February 2004 the MRC announced majorchanges to its approach to funding research,which wereimplemented from 1 April 2004.The changes had beeninformed by extensive consultation with the scient

169、ificcommunity through the MRC website and a series ofregional university roadshows.The MRCs previous 12grant schemes were simplified to six:Research Grants,Collaboration Grants,Centre Grants,Trial Grants,NewInvestigator Awards,and Career Establishment Grants.The MRCs grants schemes are designed to:P

170、rovide funds for:ohigh-risk/high-impact work;ostudies which may act as a spring-board for longer-term research;oenhanced clinical research training;obetter support for early career researchers;osimpler,more flexible support for collaborationbetween grant-holders.Encourage multidisciplinary working,w

171、ithforwardlooking research strategies,greater emphasison outputs and national needs,and greatertransparency of funding and accountability.Target funds towards the most productiveindividuals and groups through a smaller number ofgrant schemes with flexible scale and duration driven by research needs

172、not by funding andduration limits.Fund individual centres of excellence that are basedon a long-term strategy reflecting the views ofuniversities,RCs,charities,industry and otherstakeholders.Preliminary review of response to the new schemes:the numbers of applications submitted to the researchboards

173、 continued to grow throughout 2004/05,largelybecause of the increase in requests for research grants ofthree years or less.The MRC will continue to monitor thebalance of long-term and short-term support and theload on the refereeing community.Annual ratings ofapplications and award rates will be pos

174、ted on the MRCwebsite from June 2005.The impact of the dual supportreform and full economic costing will also be closelymonitored and assessed.Key awards made in 2004/05Research Grants:as anticipated,the new-style ResearchGrant was the principal scheme utilised by scientistsduring 2004/05.This flexi

175、ble form of support covers awide variety of work,from a two-year pilot project to aprogramme of research for five years or longer.During2004/05,157 new Research Grants were awarded.Collaboration Grants:Cooperative Group Grants werereplaced with a simpler scheme of Collaboration Grants.These are awar

176、ded as supplements to Research Grants,to provide infrastructure support for networks ofcollaboration with research groups that are supported byother funding agencies.They can be used to supportcooperative research with high core costs,to supportcomplex cooperative links across several highereducatio

177、n institutions,and to develop research networks,promote international twinning and collaborations.Collaboration Grants may be awarded for any period ofbetween two to five years,and funds from 50k to 1m(if involving large capital items)can be requested.OneCollaboration Grant was awarded during 2004/0

178、5.Trial Grants:the MRC funds clinical trials designed to provide high-quality evidence on the efficacy andeffectiveness of interventions in medicine and the healthservices.The focus of this support is primarily on trialsthat break new ground in terms of research questions or methodologies,or that ad

179、d significantly to ourunderstanding of biological or behavioural mechanismsand processes in human health and healthcare.The MRC funded 16 new clinical grants during 2004/05,covering autism,cancer,HIV,malaria and stroke,and therewere 55 live Trial Grants on 1 April 2005.During the yearthe results of

180、the following trials were reported,all withmajor implications for healthcare:ACST surgery toreduce stroke risk;RIPPLE sex education in schools;GRIT timing of delivery of babies;CRASH corticosteroids for brain injury;UKBEAM spinalmanipulation for back pain;STICH surgery followingstroke;antibiotics in

181、 children for AIDS-related deaths;andstreptokinase in chest infection.Research15Centre Grants:MRC Centre Grants support researchpartnerships between the MRC and host institutions.They are designed to fund multidisciplinary researchenvironments in partnership with universities and involvesignificant

182、investment by the MRC and the host university,with full-time scientific leadership.During 2004/05 theMRC funded two new centres the UCL Centre forMedical Virology,and the MRC Cambridge Centre forStem Cell Biology and Medicine(see page 19),increasingthe total number of MRC-funded centres to nine.The

183、process and procedures for applying for centrefunding has been updated and incorporated into anannual competition that starts with the submission ofoutline proposals.The 2004 competition received 18outline applications,four of which were short-listed fordevelopment into full proposals and a funding

184、decisionwill be made in July 2005.Career Establishment Grants:these grants are awardedfor five years to recently appointed clinical and nonclinicaluniversity researchers.They are designed to enablescientists to establish themselves as independentinvestigators capable of winning further support in op

185、encompetition.The MRC awarded 12 new grants during2004/05 and there were 78 live grants on 1 April 2005.Following a review of Early Career Awards by the MRCTraining and Career Development Board in 2004/05,theCareer Establishment Grant scheme will be merged withthe New Investigator Award scheme in 20

186、05/06.New Investigator Awards:in January 2004 the MRCannounced a new commitment to the careers of youngclinical and non-clinical scientists,by allocating 5m in2004/05 for a pilot New Investigator Award scheme.It isdesigned to give new researchers the opportunity toestablish their independence as inv

187、estigators.The MRCmade 21 New Investigator Awards during 2004/05.There were seven live grants on 1 April 2005.Following areview by the MRC Training and Career DevelopmentBoard,the MRC revised its Early Career Awards schemeto incorporate aspects of the Career Establishment Grantscheme,with eligibilit

188、y extended and a combined budgetfor 2005/06 of 11m.Discipline Hopping Awards:the MRC made its fourthround of Discipline Hopping Awards during the year toencourage established physical sciences researchers toapply their expertise to life science problems.Theawards,of up to 50k for a one-year period,a

189、re aimedat pumppriming new interdisciplinary collaborations.The EPSRC and the BBSRC jointly funded theprogramme,enabling 21 new projects to be supportedacross physics,chemistry and engineering.The DTIsCognitive Sciences Programme also provided 60k offunding towards the scheme.Strategic Appointments

190、Scheme:this scheme helpsuniversities and MRC units to attract scientists of thevery highest research calibre,usually from overseas,whocan make a significant contribution to advancing universityand MRC strategy.There was one award made toOxford University during 2004/05(see page 12).To date,the schem

191、e has helped universities and units to attract18 senior scientists to the UK.Grant schemes now closed:as reported last year,Programme Grants,Cooperative Group Grants and theMRC Equipment Supplement Scheme were closed tonew applications from 31 March 2004.Applications thatwere being considered at 31

192、March continued to bereviewed and a funding decision was made in MRCresearch board meetings held in May and June 2004.Research16LINK:the LINK scheme offers strategic grant support tohigh-quality,pre-competitive research collaborationsbetween academia and industry.All LINK projects involveat least on

193、e UK company and one research organisation.There were five new grants during 2004/05 under theApplied Genomics Programme(sponsored by theBBSRC,the DTI and the MRC);the MRC awarded one infull and four with the BBSRC.There were seven OpenLINK grants on 1 April 2005.To help broaden the scopeof the sche

194、me,the LINK marque has been franchised tothe MRC,the BBSRC and the EPSRC.As a consequencethe MRC is able to fund LINK projects across its ownresearch areas rather than only as part of a specific LINKprogramme.Information on all MRC funding awards made from2001/02 to 2004/05 is available at www.mrc.a

195、c.uk.Grant schemeCooperativeGroupProgramme StrategicAwards made in 2004/05382226Number of live grants on1 April 2005194204069MRC research institutes and unitsReview of MRC intramural support:the MRCs reviewof its intramural support began in early 2004.The reviewwas prompted by the OSTs quinquennial

196、review of theRCs in 2001,which called on them to clarify the case forsupporting their institutes,and by the MRCs review ofextramural funding in 2003/04.The MRC has been redefining its policy for intramuralsupport,to reiterate the strategic need for institutes andunits and clarify their role.A new st

197、atement reaffirmingMRC support for intramural programmes will bepublished in 2005.In 2004 the MRC conducted a comprehensivereappraisal of how it evaluates its own institutes andunits,identifying the strengths and weaknesses of theexisting process.The review involved extensiveconsultations with key s

198、takeholders,including directors,staff representatives and independent expert reviewers,and was carried out by external consultants.Theconsensus was that although there was widespreadconfidence that use of regular peer review woulddemonstrate that public money was being used tosupport first-class sci

199、ence,some aspects of the reviewprocess would benefit from improvement.A series of further stakeholder consultations produced arange of ideas for improvements,which will be developedinto a new review process for consideration by theMRCs Council in 2005.Quinquennial reviews of MRC units and institutes

200、:thequinquennial reviews of six MRC units were completedduring 2004/05.Collectively,these units had 23programmes of past work assessed and 22 programmes(96 per cent)received the highest ranking of 4.5 orabove that is,were internationally competitive.Thefollowing units scored 4.5 or above for future

201、proposalsand were awarded funds for a further five years:theClinical Trials Unit(London),the Social and Public HealthSciences Unit(Glasgow),the Mammalian Genetics Unit(Harwell),the Dunn Human Nutrition Unit(Cambridge),the Centre for Protein Engineering(Cambridge)and theCollaborative Centre for Human

202、 Nutrition Research(Cambridge).During the year one institute review was completed,forthe Clinical Sciences Centre(CSC)(London).The CSCsmission is to support innovative basic and clinicalresearch programmes,and to work in partnership withImperial College to forge productive two-way exchangesbetween b

203、asic and applied medical research.The CSChad 22 programmes of past work assessed;20(91 per cent)received the highest ranking,and the MRC awardedfunds for a further five years.The strategy for the nextfive years will continue to promote two-way translationallinks and closer partnerships with Imperial

204、 CollegeLondon and Hammersmith Hospital.The Laboratory of Molecular Biology has completed twodivisional reviews(in Neurobiology,and in Protein andNucleic Acid Chemistry)and the National Institute forMedical Research has completed five divisional reviews(in Neurosciences,Immunology,Infections,Structu

205、ralBiology,and Genes and Development).Both institutereviews will be completed during 2005/06.National Institute for Medical Research(NIMR):asreported last year,the NIMR Task Force completed itswork in July 2004 and its final report was considered bythe MRCs Council in July and again in October.TheCo

206、uncil agreed with the Task Forces recommendationthat the NIMR should be renewed as a multidisciplinaryinstitute focused on basic and translational research,andbe based in the London area.The Council agreed that full proposals should bedeveloped for a renewed institute in partnership witheither Kings

207、 College London(KCL)or University CollegeLondon(UCL).In December 2004 the Councilconsidered those proposals,along with a paper preparedby the NIMR setting out what would be required for arenewed institute at Mill Hill to meet the Task Forcesvision as closely as possible.On the basis of theseproposal

208、s and site visits to KCL and UCL,the Councilselected UCL as the preferred partner in February 2005,and agreed that the NIMR should work with UCL andthe MRC head office to prepare the full business plan forthe Councils consideration.A project group with membership drawn from MRChead offfice,the NIMR

209、and UCL was established to assistin the preparation of the business plan.The plan wasconsidered and approved by the Council in May 2005and will form the basis for an application to the LargeFacilities Capital Fund for support towards the cost ofthe project.For further information see www.mrc.ac.uk/a

210、bout-nimr_ steering _committee.Research17InternationalMore than ever before,there is growing recognition thatthe health burdens of todays society can be tackledmore effectively through international collaboration.Amultinational coordinated approach can bring significantbenefits not only to studies o

211、f rare diseases,but also toefforts to tackle the considerable challenges and healththreats of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.With the increasing popularity of travel,environmentalchange and the evolution of the disease-causingpathogens,national borders provide little protection.Inaddit

212、ion,globalisation of multinational companies hascontributed to changes in lifestyle,leading to a worldwideincrease in chronic disorders such as heart disease,stroke,cancer and diabetes.The MRC is an international leader in funding andpromoting high-quality research overseas biomedical,translational

213、and clinical.We achieve this by engaging withkey funders,ministries and other agencies,by subscribingto international organisations,and by brokering bilateraland multilateral collaborations.Research coordinationThe outbreak of SARS(severe acute respiratorysyndrome),the more recent development of avi

214、an fluand the continuing rise in infectious diseases such astuberculosis and HIV/AIDS have prompted high-level forasuch as HIROs1to focus on new approaches to tacklingglobal health issues.This year has seen discussions onhow existing significant efforts can be better coordinatedand targeted;other to

215、pics included open access andregulation of medical journals,the need to attract youngpeople into science,and evaluation and bench-marking.In Europe,the EUROHORCs forum2continues to play amajor role in developing the concept of the EuropeanResearch Area,a free market for research across Europe.At the

216、 centre of this has been a discussion on thepossibility of allowing researchers to transfer grants tohost institutes in other European countries,to enablethem to move more freely around Europe and assist withtheir career development.In 2004 the European RCsdrew up and signed a letter supporting this

217、 principle.Legislation discussed and passed by the EuropeanParliament is increasingly influencing research practice inEurope.The MRC uses its sponsorship of the UKResearch Office(UKRO)in Brussels as a source of earlyinformation and a route to influencing informed debate.During the year,the MRC and t

218、he BBSRC sponsored adiscussion workshop on stem cell research,which washosted by UKRO.The MRC remains an active participant in promoting theEUs Framework Programme,the Commissions mainmechanism for funding research across Europe,acting as the National Contact Point and UK representative onthe Progra

219、mme Management Committee for the LifeSciences and Genomics for Health theme.2004 saw thelaunch of the third call for proposals,which the MRC and the DTI highlighted through an information event inLondon.At a number of fora the MRC has been involvedin discussions about the development of the 7thFrame

220、work Programme and how the funding ofresearcher-initiated basic research may be included throughthe establishment of a European Research Council.Since the arrival of its new chief executive,the EuropeanScience Foundations(ESF)activities have been underreview and it is currently preparing a four-year

221、 scientificstrategy.The MRC,as a sponsor,has continued to inputat various levels:as the UK chair of UKESF3,through thegoverning council and executive board members,as amember of the European Medical Research Council4andas a member of the COST5Technical Committee forMedicine and Health.The MRC has th

222、is year fundedproposals the EUROdyna and the Pan EuropeanClinical Trials under the ESF EUROCORES scheme.International subscriptionsThe MRC subscribes to a number of internationalorganisations in order to provide the UK scientificcommunity with access to international competitivefunding,training,work

223、shops and key European facilities.Current subscriptions include the European MolecularBiology Conference,the European Molecular BiologyLaboratory,the International Agency for Cancer Researchand the Human Frontiers Science Program.Research181An informal group of heads of international research organi

224、sations(HIROs),encompassing the major funders of biomedical research.2An informal policy-forming group of European heads of Research Councils(EUROHORCs)spanning all disciplines.3A forum made up of the eight Research Councils,the Royal Society and the British Academy.4A standing committee of the ESF,

225、representing the medical sciences.5European Cooperation in the Field of Science and Technology Research supported by the EU Framework Programme and now run by the ESF.CollaborationsThe MRCs units in Africa are at the centre of ourinternational activity.In 2004/05 the DFID contributed4m towards a 23m

226、 MRC-managed programme totackle the most pressing health problems of people indeveloping countries.Programme activities included thelaunch of the Microbicides Development Programme anda partnership between the MRC,Imperial CollegeLondon and the DFID aimed at reducing the prevalenceof sexually transm

227、itted diseases in developing countries.2004 saw the launch of the 400k internationalcollaboration to characterise embryonic stem cell linesand the depositing of the first cell lines in the UK StemCell Bank(see page 9).In conjunction with the JuvenileDiabetes Research Foundation International,the MRC

228、announced the establishment of the MRC CambridgeCentre for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine.The centrewill generate new insights into basic biology for thedevelopment of stem cell treatments for diabetes anddiseases of the brain,including Parkinsons disease andmultiple sclerosis.In February 2005,the M

229、RC and the London School ofHygiene and Tropical Medicine announced the results ofa four-year pneumonia vaccine trial in The Gambia(seepage 10).Together with INSERM,the World Health Organization,the Eberhard Karls University of Tbingen andrepresentatives of four African countries,the MRC hasset up Ne

230、tworking for Ethics on Biomedical Research inAfrica,which aims to improve ethics research reviewcapacity in West Africa(see page 36).Towards the end of the year,the MRC established newcorporate relationships with funding bodies,professionalagencies and ministries in China,with the aim ofstrengthenin

231、g links between the UK and Chinese medicalresearch communities in 2005/06.The European and Developing Countries Clinical TrialsPartnership(EDCTP)remained the MRCs largestcollaboration.We have continued to work with otherfunders,experts,and the European Commission todevelop the EDCTP under Article 16

232、9,including changesto the executive directorship and secretariat and steps to improve peer review and research managementarrangements.Publication output indicatorsThe quality of MRC-funded research is demonstrated byour scientists output of publications,as well as by thepeer-review ratings for each

233、award.OST research hasshown that in scientific areas where the MRC is one ofthe dominant funders,the UKs share of world citations issecond only to that of the USA.Moreover,the UKachieves a higher level of scientific return in terms ofinvestment per researcher.Scientists in MRC units and institutes p

234、ublished over2,000 papers in peer-reviewed journals in the calendaryear 2004.More than 30 per cent involved researchersor funders from outside the UK and eight per centinvolved researchers or funding from the private sector.Research1920031,814Refereed publications20042,011MRC intramurally supported

235、publications20031277Number of refereedpublications co-authoredwith industrial partnersPercentage of all refereedpapers20041468MRC intramurally supported publications co-authored with industrial partners200357231Number of refereedpublications co-authoredwith overseas partnersPercentage of all referee

236、dpapers200463233MRC intramurally supported publications co-authored with overseas partners/co-authorsInvestment in peopleInvestment in peopleThe MRCs strategic objective for people:To attract and retain first-rate people to meet the UKs scientific and broader labour needs.Human resourcesThe MRC curr

237、ently employs more than 4,000 staff,bothin the UK and overseas.The MRC Strategic Plan20042007 focuses our human resources(HR)activitieson developing policies,procedures and partnerships toensure the competitiveness and effective resourcing ofMRC research.This is set in the context of extensiveongoin

238、g change and development of people and theorganisation,as units continue to be created,repositionedor closed,to ensure that the MRC delivers its overallmission.During 2004/05 the MRC has focused on the followingpriorities:Completing the equality proofing of its pay systemsand beginning the design of

239、 reward systems that aremore responsive to specialisation and individualperformance.An initiative to provide support and coaching forgroup leaders and directors to maximise theireffectiveness in people management,to enable theMRC to anticipate research and resource changesmore proactively.Launching

240、a network for senior HR professionalsacross the MRC and implementing a programme forthis group to enhance our leadership and changecapabilities.Conducting stress audits across the MRC to assesscapacity for and responses to change and continuingour commitment to employee health and safety byimplement

241、ing an employee assistance programme.Extending the corporate learning and developmentcurriculum to include:the introductory certificate inmanagement;the MRC and the Public traininginitiative;the European Computer Driving Licence.Developing our Investors in People initiative beyondfour pilot units to

242、 widen implementation across theMRC.Progressing our Women in Science initiative underthe chairmanship of Professor Ann Prentice bytaking an active part in the National Athena Assetsurvey and identifying actions to progress MRCachievements in this area.Using new corporate communication technology,for

243、example the MRC portal,to ensure wider coverageand reliability of MRC employee communications.Continuing to define the HR administrative efficiencyprogramme and requirements for an improved HRinformation system to shape future MRC HRknowledge and information management practices,within overall requi

244、rements of flexibility,efficiencyand effectiveness.Continuing to implement employee consultationprocesses and migration plans relating to theadministrative efficiency agenda,ensuring fullconsultation with the trade unions.Continuing to manage the existing cadre of MRCexternal scientific staff follow

245、ing extensiveconsultation with them around changes to theprogramme of support.Diversity and equal opportunitiesThe MRC values the diverse skills and experiences of itsemployees and is committed to achieving equality oftreatment for all.We have an equal opportunitiessubcommittee,which audits our empl

246、oyee data annuallyto ensure that the aims of the MRCs policies andpractices are being achieved in a fair and equal manner,and to identify any imbalances that may need to beaddressed.MRC policies and schemes are regularly monitored toensure that they are sufficiently flexible to accommodateall resear

247、chers,male and female,and all career pathways.We aim to offer a competitive employment package andhave an appropriate balance between work and nonworkcommitments.Investment in people21TrainingGovernment Science Budget training objectives:To raise the standard of postgraduate and post-doctoral resear

248、chers,and increase their numbers in priority fieldsexperiencing shortfalls or recruitment difficulties.To enhance their training to better fit them for careers requiring research skills and experience and increase theirattractiveness to future employers.The MRCs portfolio of personal award schemespr

249、ovides opportunities for initial postgraduate training,acquisition of further research skills,and careeropportunities for more experienced researchers.Postgraduate Studentships:the new Doctoral TrainingAccount system for funding postgraduate studentships inuniversities and in MRC units and institute

250、s started inOctober 2004.This allows the host institutionsconsiderably increased flexibility over stipend levels andduration of awards,and makes joint funding ofstudentships at a local level much easier.During 2005/06we will undertake the first analysis of the initial impact ofthis change,for exampl

251、e on the numbers of studentssupported and the level of stipends.More than 70 percent of MRC PhD students successfully complete theirresearch projects and submit their theses within fouryears of study.Investment in people 22First destination survey data for MRC-funded PhDstudents who commenced their

252、studies in 2000 showthat 37 per cent had an academic appointment in the UKand 13 per cent were working in the private sector.Afurther 22 per cent had gone overseas.More detailedanalysis of the first destinations of MRC students will bereported in the MRC Annual Report 2005/06.Fellowships:in 2004/05

253、the MRC made 79 newfellowship awards at a cost of 21.4m.Year PhDstartedPercentagesubmitted withinfour years ofstart datePercentagesubmitted withinfive years ofstart date199775781998818319998487200071Not yetavailableCapacity Building Studentships:the MRC retains thismechanism for funding additional p

254、ostgraduatestudentships in areas where the research workforceneeds to be built up.In February 2005,56 newstudentships were awarded in whole animal physiology,infections,stem cells,bioinformatics(includingcomputational biology),dementias,health economics andpublic health modelling.These include nine

255、awards inwhole animal physiology,pharmacology and toxicologythat have been funded in partnership with the IntegrativePharmacology Fund.The fund was set up with thepharmaceutical industry to help address skills shortages inspecific areas.In addition,the MRC awarded 10 industrialcollaborative students

256、hips to companies that wish to trainstudents in collaboration with universities;these will betaken up later in 2005.Implementation of the Roberts Reviewrecommendations:the MRC has increased minimumstipend levels for existing and new MRC postgraduatestudents,including those funded through DoctoralTra

257、ining Accounts.In addition,we have provided fundingfor increased stipends for Capacity Building Studentshipsto help attract students to areas where greater researchcapacity is needed.MRC funding for training in genericand transferable skills for PhD students and post-doctoralresearchers is being all

258、ocated through a commonmechanism agreed with the other RCs.Dorothy Hodgkin Awards for overseas students:theMRC has agreed to fund the second round of awards for this new scheme to provide fully funded PhDstudentships at UK universities to applicants from India,China,Hong Kong,Russia and the developi

259、ng world.Aswith the first round,the funding will be an additional450k over three years.Joint ESRC/MRC fellowship and studentship scheme:theaim of this scheme is to train a body of researchers ableto work effectively in both the social and medical sciences,and undertake genuinely interdisciplinary wo

260、rk.Elevenfellowships and 20 studentships were awarded under the first round of this scheme,for uptake in October 2004.Asecond round of awards will be made in 2005.Review of MRC support for early career non-clinicalscientists:during 2004/05 we reviewed our two grantschemes and two fellowship schemes

261、aimed atsupporting non-clinical scientists through the transitionfrom post-doctoral positions to running their ownresearch groups.Our consultation for this reviewincluded a questionnaire sent to all MRC grant-holders,board and panel members;a workshop for holders ofrelevant awards;and consultations

262、with other fundingbodies.Following the review we have decided to mergethe grant schemes into a single New Investigator Award;to retain the fellowship schemes and review them furtherafter publication in 2005 of a report on fellowshipschemes by the Academy of Medical Sciences;and toincrease funding fo

263、r the Career Development Awardscheme in 2005.Review of the Pre-doctoral Fellowship scheme:following a three-year pilot,the MRC reviewed thisscheme in 2004/05 and has decided not to continue it.The schemes original aim,that of making postgraduatetraining more attractive through salaried fellowships i

264、nMRC units and institutes,is less necessary now thatstudentship stipends have increased as a result of theRoberts Review.Review of the Research Professorship scheme:thisreview is ongoing and will be completed during 2005.MRC clinical research training schemes:during 2004/05 a sub-committee on clinic

265、al academic careers,whosemembership included representatives from the UKClinical Research Collaboration and Modernising MedicalCareers,developed recommendations to help addressthe shortage of clinical researchers in the UK.During2005 we will review our clinical research fellowshipschemes for all car

266、eer stages.See section 5 of the MRC Operating Report 2004/05 forprogress against Training and workforce developmenttargets in the MRC Operating Plan 2004/05.Investment in people23Technology transferTechnology transferThe MRCs strategic objective for commercial exploitation:To encourage commercial ex

267、ploitation for the benefit of national health and wealth.Government Science Budget knowledge transfer objectives:To increase the performance of the science and engineering base in exploiting the results of its research.To increase the effectiveness of knowledge transfer from Research Council(RC)inst

268、itutes in line with therecommendations of the Baker Review of public sector research establishments and the National Audit Officereport on commercialisation of public sector science.MRC TechnologyKnowledge transfer by the MRCThe MRC works with industry and investors to expandexploitation of its rese

269、arch,primarily through its affiliatedcompany,MRC Technology Ltd(MRCT).The MRC hasdirect responsibility for technology transfer with respectto its own units and institutes.Accelerating knowledge transferFollowing the Department of Trade and IndustrysInnovation Report(2003),the MRC has developed plans

270、to increase its rate of knowledge transfer and interactionswith industry,using an approach coordinated with theother RCs through the RCUK Knowledge Transfer Group.These plans form part of the MRCs delivery plan.Drug Discovery Group:in December 2004,the MRCsCouncil approved plans for the creation of

271、a DrugDiscovery Group within the commercial environment ofthe MRCTs laboratory facilities.The group will bemanaged as a similar private sector operation would be.However,its remit will span the entire range of researchfields funded by the MRC,including potential drug targetsin neglected diseases and

272、 prospective targets currentlyregarded as too high-risk by the pharmaceutical industry.This is a significant development in line with the MRCsobjective of translating cutting-edge biology intotreatments and medicines.Patent portfolio audit:a minority of the patents filed bythe MRCT are subject to mu

273、ltiple non-exclusive licences,whereby responsibility for patent management and costsremain with MRCT rather than passing to thecommercial partner.To determine whether this continuedsupport of patent applications is justified,in 2004/05MRCT conducted a review of the entire MRC patentportfolio.The aim

274、 was to identify and discontinue patentapplications with low commercial potential,therebyenabling resources to be focused on cases with strongpotential.The audit led to 34 patent filings beingabandoned,which has reduced the portfolio to 151patent cases actively managed by MRCT,of which 51 hadone or

275、more non-exclusive or field-exclusive licences byFebruary 2005.Prior to the audit,patent costs had been rising steadilyeach financial year,reaching 1.31m for 2003/04.Costsfor 2004/05 amounted to 1.21m.Once the full effect ofthe audit is seen,MRCT expects that a new steady statein costs will be reach

276、ed,as new high-potential filings aremade and partnered and older orphan cases arereviewed and abandoned.Development Gap funding:this is the second full year ofthe MRCs Development Gap scheme,through whichfunding is made available to MRC units for commerciallyorientated basic research in order to pro

277、vide proof-of-concept data,particularly to strengthen patents duringthe priority year.Since autumn 2003,MRCT hasprocessed 28 applications and funded 16 projects at atotal of 1.9m.The earliest projects were complete ornearing completion at the end of the year and efforts areunderway to partner or lic

278、ense the intellectual propertyrights that are generated.The Development Gap Fund has also been used tostimulate industry interest in partnering innovativeresearch with potential commercial application.Oneexample of this is funding for a collaboration betweenthe MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology an

279、d Pfizer,theworlds biggest pharmaceutical company.The award willhelp the laboratory to develop techniques to elucidateTechnology transfer25the three-dimensional structure of human G proteincoupled receptors a class of drug targets that havebeen key to advances in the search for medicines to treatcon

280、ditions where medical need remains high.Working with industryLicence agreements:26 new agreements were signedduring the year.MRCT completed three revenue shareagreements with academic institutions,which will betaking the lead in managing exploitation of jointly ownedpatents.Some of the more importan

281、t licences relate totechnologies where the first application in a patent familywas filed several years earlier.For instance,microdroplettechnology,which allows billions of individual experimentsto be performed in parallel,and which originated in theMRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology nearly 10 years

282、ago.This technology is now attracting considerableinterest for a variety of applications,including proteinengineering and selection,which the MRC has begun tolicense on a non-exclusive basis.Start-up companies:no new companies based on MRCtechnology were established in 2004/05.Existing start-upshowe

283、ver,continued to flourish.In March 2005 Ardana Ltdbecame the first MRC start-up company since CambridgeAntibody Technology to be floated directly on theLondon Stock Exchange,although some other listedbiotechnology companies such as Vernalis and BioFocusderive in part from MRC start-ups which merged

284、withother entities.Ardana,a biotechnology company based inEdinburgh,was created in 2000 on the basis of licencesand options to intellectual property arising in the MRCHuman Reproductive Sciences Unit.Although Ardanasubsequently acquired rights to nearer-to-marketproducts from other companies,it cont

285、inues to developearlierstage technologies arising in the unit and,prior tolisting,agreed a revised and more focused optionagreement with the MRC that will take effect in July 2005.L Liic ce en nc ce e iin nc co om me e (r re es so ou ur rc ce e):the MRCs income fromlicensing increased substantially,

286、from 14.3m in 2003/04to 27.3m in 2004/05 excluding interest(1.2m),onbalances in the MRCs Commercial Fund.The increase islargely attributable to higher royalty income from MRClicences in the field of antibody engineering.This is in partbecause of the success of Humira,a therapeutic antibodyproduct fo

287、r treatment of rheumatoid arthritis that isderived from phage display technology licensed toCambridge Antibody Technology Ltd.In addition,royaltyincome under patent licences in the humanised antibodyfield has increased substantially,partly as a result of newproducts receiving marketing approval.In 2

288、002/03 income from ad hoc licences to reagents mainly antibodies arising from MRC intramural workwas approximately 220k.MRCT recognised that therewas potential to increase this,and during 2004 set up adatabase containing information about each reagent(specification,application,etc.)to track non-excl

289、usivelicences to reagent companies.An MRC researchreagents catalogue was produced and copies were sentto all MRC units and institutes to encourage MRCscientists to use and provide reagents.The catalogue wasalso published on the MRCT website and distributed to alarge number of companies,which has res

290、ulted in manyrequests for licences to antibodies,transgenic mice andother tools,with several new licences currently undernegotiation.Optical projection tomography:the MRCTs laboratoriesin Edinburgh continue to work closely with the MRCHuman Genetics Unit in support of the invention ofoptical project

291、ion tomography(OPT)by Dr JamesSharpe.MRCT is operating a service offering OPTimaging to the scientific community on a fee-for-servicebasis(for details visit ).This initiativestems from a large demand for imaging following thepublication of a paper about the technique.In parallel,theMRC commissioned

292、a small equipment manufacturer todesign and build working machines.The first prototypeinstrument is being beta-tested by the inventor at MRCTEdinburgh,and OPT machines should be available forpurchase by autumn 2005.See section 7 of the MRC Operating Report 2004/05 forprogress against Knowledge trans

293、fer targets in the MRCOperating Plan 2004/05.Technology transfer26Technology transfer indicatorsThese figures show that the MRCs exploitation of intellectual property arising from its intramural research is effectiveaccording to both national and international standards.Licence income,for instance,i

294、s equivalent to 9.17 per cent ofresearch expenditure on MRC institutes and units,which on the basis of the most recent comparative figures available ismore than three times the proportion achieved overall by US universities and around 15 times the level in UKuniversities.Employment in start-up compa

295、niesTechnology transfer27CompanyNumber of employees(FTEs)at 31 March 200329975365416292658351317107315415973at 31 March 2004271884566130125637401126980185301,014at 31 March 20052801146067140127657447238721004351,135Cambridge Antibody TechnologyML Laboratories(Cobra)TopoTargets(Prolifix)MRCT(all site

296、s)BioFocus(CGL)Vernalis(Ribotargets)Sangamo(Gendaq)AERES BiomedicalDomantisAvidisArdana BiosciencesMVMHammersmith ImanetArgenta Discovery(Etiologics)IclectusOxxon TherapeuticsTotalBrackets show MRC start-ups which have merged with other companies.The list does not include Celltech Group plc(now part

297、 of UCB Pharma),although thisoriginated in 1980 as a start-up company based on MRC technology.FTEs=full time equivalents.Technology transfer28Income(resource*)fromexploitation of intellectualproperty(k)13,46915,11815,04328,516Year2001/022002/032003/042004/05Revenues*These figures differ from the cas

298、h income in the table below particularlyas they include some royalties earned on product sales in the yearpreceding actual receipt.The figures include interest received on balancesin the Commercial Fund.Year1998/991999/20002000/012001/022002/032003/042004/05New patentfilings40323450412817New licence

299、s(cumulative totalsin brackets)25(251)26(301)*36(337)42(379)32(411)26(437)24(457)Cash income fromexploitation ofintellectual property(k)2,8537,58217,946*11,71314,12815,21920,812Interest on balancesin Commercial Fund(k)nilnilnilnil537011,192Year-on-year trends on MRC exploitation activity*Cumulative

300、figure adjusted following review of licences.*Includes 8m from share sales.The increase in 2004/05 was driven largely by higher royalty income on end-product sales from patent licences.In thelight of the poor market in shares in the biotechnology sector during this period,the MRC did not sell any of

301、 the equitythat it holds in listed companies derived from the licensing of intellectual property.Public engagementPublic engagementThe MRCs strategic objective for public engagement:To engage the public in medical research,including dialogue about its implications for society and health.Government S

302、cience Budget Science in Society objectives:To enhance public awareness of the outcomes from and priorities for publicly funded science and increaseopenness over its management and use through greater engagement and dialogue with the public.To increase the reach and impact of activities undertaken b

303、y the Research Councils and other bodies fundedthrough the Science Budget by improving joint working between them and other organisations.Engaging with the publicThe MRCs science and society programme has twocomponents:involving members of the public and seekingtheir views through dialogue and consu

304、ltation,andpromoting the health benefits resulting from the workand achievements of MRC scientists.Events and partnershipsIn June 2004 we held a celebratory event at the RoyalCollege of Physicians to mark a number of clinicalresearch milestones,including the 60th anniversary of the MRCs first random

305、ised controlled trial,the 50thanniversary of the study that identified the link betweensmoking and lung cancer,and 20 years of HIV research.The invited audience included health professionals,scientists,charities,patient groups and interestedmembers of the public.Once again,science festivals provided

306、 excellentopportunities for young MRC researchers to engage withpublic audiences.For example,our DNA science stand atthe Edinburgh International Science Festival in April,which is organised by local MRC PhD students.To helpdevelop other young researchers public communicationskills,we ran a one-day t

307、raining event for MRC CareerDevelopment Fellows.A number of participants then puttheir learning into practice at the Cheltenham ScienceFestival,engaging family audiences in interactive activitiessuch as cell staining.In partnership with the European Dana Alliance of theBrain,the MRC supported the me

308、dical sciences events atthe BA Festival of Science in Exeter in September 2004.The theme was the creative brain.Dr Lizzie Burns,anMRC-sponsored scientist and artist,held a series ofassociated workshops at local schools that culminated in an exhibition of the childrens work at the Festival andat Exet

309、er Cathedral.Another BA Festival activity wasPerspectives,a poster competition in which researcherspresented their science in its societal context,sponsoredby the MRC and the Engineering and Physical SciencesResearch Council.This year the MRC introduced a small grant scheme tosupport scientists invo

310、lvement in public engagement,which contributed to us running 14 projects duringNational Science Week;the formats and topics includedan open day on Alzheimers research,a week-long seriesof art and microbiology workshops in primary schools,and an interactive exhibition on the senses atManchester Museu

311、m.During the year the Stem Cell Communication Coalition made up of the MRC and other major funders of stemcell research developed a media training project aimedat scientists working in stem cell research.The MRC alsocontinued to take an active role in the Coalition forMedical Progress(CMP),a group o

312、f industry,charity,academic and funding organisations working in researchinvolving animals.The CMPs awareness-raising work in2004/05 included a booklet for GPs surgeries calledUnderstanding Your Health and Animal Research,sponsorship of an Observer newspaper supplement onanimal research,and a parlia

313、mentary reception hosted byhealth minister Lord Warner.When in January 2005MORI was asked to repeat questions from an opinionpoll commissioned by the CMP in 2003,the resultsshowed a positive trend in peoples support for the useof animals in research.Public engagement31In partnership with the Natural

314、 Environmental ResearchCouncil,the MRC sponsored a series of online debatesand associated evening discussion events on the themeEnvironment and Health.These covered health issuesassociated with air pollution,chemicals and climatechange,and attracted nearly 10,000 visitors to thediscussion site.MRC A

315、dvisory Group on Public Involvement Now in its fourth year,the MRCs Advisory Group onPublic Involvement(AGPI)continued its activities acrossthe MRCs work.During the year the members focusedon how best to be involved in assessment of researchproposals and ways of facilitating the publics involvementi

316、n basic science,which included conducting a survey toelicit the views of MRC units about the value andappropriateness of such involvement.Two AGPI memberswere invited to be participating members of the strategicsubgroup of the MRCs Council.In October 2004,16 newmembers were recruited to form an exte

317、nded publicinvolvement network designed to provide a broaderrange of experience and greater opportunity to beinvolved at a regional level.The AGPIs role in 2005 willbe developed to integrate their perspective within awider programme of public consultation.Communicating the work of the MRCDuring the

318、year the Corporate Communications Groupled a comprehensive programme of activities to promotethe work of the MRC,with particular focus on theachievements of MRC scientists.Our activities includedan audit of the MRCs reputation among externalstakeholders,a major project which we completed inearly 200

319、5.The results of this survey of our variousexternal audiences,including the general public,will helpto shape the MRCs business during 2005/06 and beyond.MediaThe MRC press office continued to receive a high level of interest from journalists with about 4,000 mediaenquiries during the year.By proacti

320、vely publicising thework of the MRC,the team gained extensive coverage inbroadcast and print media with both scientific and laypress covering many MRC stories.In order to target the media more effectively and rapidlyand to offer MRC scientists more variety whenpromoting their work,the press team int

321、roduced newways of working to complement press release activity.These included electronic bulletins,news flashes,offers ofexclusive news stories to high-profile publications andprogrammes,and MRC web news stories.Topics that attracted wide media attention included astudy that provided a comprehensiv

322、e assessment of themeasles-mumps-rubella(MMR)vaccine and autism;theopening of the MRC-funded UK Stem Cell Bank;and thenews that a widely available antibiotic drug can cutAIDSrelated deaths in children after infancy by 43 per cent.Print and web communicationsDuring the year the publications team prod

323、uced morethan 50 publications and events support materials,andworked with a range of MRC head office groups on theirprint and online communications needs.The MRC Annual Review 2003/04,our leading public-facing publication,showcased a wide range of MRC-funded scientific achievements and illustrated t

324、he two-way process by which such achievements are translatedinto healthcare benefits.In February 2005 we launchedAgeing and Health,the first in a new series of bookletsaimed at the general public and non-scientificprofessionals.Entitled MRC Research for Lifelong Health,the series is designed to prov

325、ide an accessible,engagingoverview of MRC-funded research in specific areas.Key examples of publications aimed at scientific andgovernment audiences included the MRC Strategic Plan20042007,a review of research into assisted humanreproduction,three MRC ethics guides,and a fundinginformation leaflet f

326、or clinicians.In addition to MRCNetwork,a quarterly newsletter for the scientificcommunity,the team produced newsletters for theLearning and Development Group,the Centre for BestPractice for Animals in Research(now the NationalCentre for the 3Rs),and an annual newsletter for clinicalresearchers.We a

327、lso produced publications to informMRC staff about flexible working arrangements,trainingopportunities for part-time staff,and a new CareerDevelopment Fellows scheme.During the second half of 2004/05 the web team hasbeen working on the initial stages of a comprehensiveredevelopment of the MRC corpor

328、ate website.Otherweb projects included editorial management of theInternational Stem Cell Forum site that the teamlaunched in 2003/04,and advising on development of theEU Clinical Trials Directive route map website.Public engagement 32ParliamentaryThe MRC submitted evidence to a number ofparliamenta

329、ry inquiries during the year.House of Commons Science and Technology SelectCommittee inquiries:The Use of Science in UK International DevelopmentPolicy Mr Nick Winterton,MRC ExecutiveDirector,appeared before the committee in June2004.Scientific Publications:Free for All?the MRCcontributed to RCUKs w

330、ritten evidence to thecommittee which was published in July 2004.Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law theMRC contributed to RCUKs written evidence inMay 2004.Professor Catherine Peckham,Chair ofthe MRC/Human Fertilisation and EmbryologyAuthority Working Group on Assisted Reproductionand Dr Ro

331、bin Lovell-Badge,MRC National Institutefor Medical Research,presented oral evidence tothe committee in November 2004.The Future of the NIMR the MRC submittedwritten evidence to the committee in November2004.Sir Anthony Cleaver,MRC Chairman;Professor Colin Blakemore,MRC Chief Executive;and Professor

332、John Savill,MRC Council member,presented oral evidence to the committee inDecember 2004.The committee also heard oralevidence from Sir John Skehel,Director of theNIMR;Dr Robin Lovell-Badge and Dr SteveGamblin,NIMR Task Force representatives;ProfessorNancy Rothwell and Professor Alan North,MRCForward

333、 Investment Strategy Sub-Committee;andNIMR Task Force members Professor StephenTomlinson,Professor Kay Davies,Professor RichardFlavell and Sir Paul Nurse.Strategic Science Provision in English Universities theMRC contributed to the RCUKs written evidence inJanuary 2005.Other Parliamentary Select Committees to which theMRC gave evidence:House of Commons Health Select Committee Inquiryinto the Influ