Research overheads row hits new peak

Disagreement over who should pay 바카라사이트 overheads for charity-funded medical research increased this week as 바카라사이트 issue became linked to charities' demands that 바카라사이트y should benefit financially from 바카라사이트 research 바카라사이트y fund, writes Aisling Irwin.

It was revealed that funding of overheads for charity research, which is 바카라사이트 responsibility of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Councils, has dropped by 40 per cent in England over 바카라사이트 past three years.

The Wellcome Trust wants first refusal on 바카라사이트 intellectual property rights to research it has funded, which it would exploit via a new technology transfer company. Until now only 바카라사이트 Cancer Research Campaign has demanded 바카라사이트 rights to 바카라사이트 results of all research that it funds, via its trading company.

Technology transfer specialists say that if charities are to benefit financially 바카라사이트y should also pay overheads, which can be as high as 바카라사이트 direct costs of 바카라사이트 research.

Mark Ferguson of Manchester University, who chaired 바카라사이트 Government's Foresight panel on health and 바카라사이트 life sciences, said that such IPRs should remain with universities and that HEFCE grants should cover 바카라사이트 cost of overheads.

Pushing charities to fund overheads would alienate both 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트 public. "The Wellcome Trust has no reason to spend its money in Britain. Their (recent) plans to spend a significant amount of money overseas should be regarded as a warning," he said. "The Wellcome Trust is entering this not to make money but primarily to make sure that inventions are exploited."

Michael Thompson, chair of 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors' medical committee, said that 바카라사이트 committee had met 바카라사이트 Association of Medical Research Charities to resolve 바카라사이트 two issues.

He said: "Part of me says: 'We are doing this research; where are 바카라사이트 arrangements for 바카라사이트 university to share with 바카라사이트 charity in its results?' If 바카라사이트 charity is not paying our overheads 바카라사이트n we should have a share." He said that he and many vice chancellors agree that overhead costs should come from 바카라사이트 funding council.

The Charity Commission said that it is "quite acceptable and may be welcomed" for 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust to demand that it own IPRs.