February 10, 2011

expert reaction to BNA statement on cuts to neuroscience

The British Neuroscience Association released a statement expressing concern over proposed cuts to neuroscience research in the UK.

Dr Declan Mulkeen, Director of Research Programmes at the Medical Research Council, said:

“Neuroscience is a key feature in the MRC’s strategy and delivery plan. The MRC invested over £123m in 2009/10 and we have just committed another £20m of additional investment, along with the Wellcome Trust, as a further boost to neurodegeneration and mental health research. This commitment and ongoing commitment to neuroscience research is vital to address the burden of disease and to attract inward investment from industry.

“While it’s true that investment in drug development in areas such as dementia and mental health might be considered commercially risky by some, there will be more and more opportunity for academic and pharmaceutical collaboration coming out of early drug discovery stage at the lab bench and in clinical research with patients over the next few years. We will keep working with the pharmaceutical sector and other industries to encourage re-investment in this area going forward.”

In a statement, the BBSRC, said:

“”BBSRC and its research community will continue to play a key role in finding solutions to important social and scientific challenges. BBSRC’s strategic priorities are in supporting research in the areas of food security and industrial biotechnology, and in the basic science underpinning health and well being.

“In making sure that its spread of funding is matched appropriately to these priorities, BBSRC has announced that it expects to reduce funding to aspects of neuroscience that fall outside its priority areas. BBSRC maintains close contact, to ensure a join up between basic neuroscience and research into specific diseases or clinical applications, with the Medical Research Council which is a much larger funder of neuroscience research overall. In reallocating funding to its priority areas, BBSRC spend in neuroscience might reduce from c.£20M to around £16M.

“BBSRC continues to support world class neuroscience, and to encourage neuroscientists to apply for support where their research addresses BBSRC’s priority areas. Examples of excellent neuroscience supported within BBSRC’s priority areas include: the neuroscience of ageing, understanding of how the neural network affects falls in older people, farmed animal health and behaviour and the psychology of diet and health.

“BBSRC published its Delivery Plan, which outlines how we intend to pursue our mission over the next four years, last December. This followed extensive and open consultation with our researchers and other partners on our new strategic plan, which was published in January 2010.

“BBSRC’s fundamental bioscience underpins vital fundamental research and innovation in healthcare and disease prevention, including the development of platform technologies and associated companies that attract inward investment. However, BBSRC’s remit does not extend to funding research that aims to treat a disease. The Delivery Plan makes clear the distinction between areas of research supported by BBSRC and MRC respectively.”