UK's biomedical research institute gets green light

The UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation, due to open in 2015 in London, will be the most advanced such facility in the country, perhaps in the world. It is a highly ambitious joint project driven by four of the UK's most influential medical research organisations: Cancer Research UK, the Medical Research Council, University College London, and the Wellcome Trust.

AMS review of the regulation and governance of health research

The Academy of Medical Sciences has launched its new report 'A new pathway for the regulation and governance of health research'.

The report proposes five key principles that should underpin the regulation and governance framework around health research in the UK, and makes recommendations to:

1. Create a new Health Research Agency (HRA) to rationalise the regulation and governance of all health research.
2. Include within the HRA a new National Research Governance Service to facilitate timely approval of research studies by NHS Trusts.
3. Improve the UK environment for clinical trials
4. Provide access to patient data that protects individual interests and allows approved research to proceed effectively.
5. Embed a culture that values research within the NHS.

Feasibility studies for responsible development of nanoscale technologies

The Technology Strategy Board and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have jointly allocated up to £400,000 to stimulate business led innovation with technologies that can address the potential environmental, health and safety (EHS) aspects of development of nanoscale technologies.

Revised process for handling amendments to NIHR CSP studies

The process for handling amendments for studies that have gained approval through the National Institute for Health Research Coordinated System for gaining NHS Permission (NIHR CSP) has been revised

European Union Innovation Strategy

The European Union has published its innovation strategy "innovation Union"

Musculoskeletal Ageing Centre

Arthritis Research UK and the MRC propose to establish a Collaborative Centre in Musculoskeletal Ageing which will become an international centre of excellence in research into the causes and mechanisms of musculoskeletal ageing, aiming at development of interventions which enhance musculoskeletal health.