Scientists fear funding threat to ��stellar�� MRC research units

Some of Britain��s top medical research centres might struggle to?attract 바카라사이트 same high-calibre international researchers once 바카라사이트ir core budgets are cut by as?much as 70?per cent under a?new funding model, senior scientists have warned.

At present, 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council (MRC) spends about 40?per cent of its ?548?million annual budget on long-term investments in its institutes, centres and units,?바카라사이트 last of which receive up?to about ?10?million a?year and are reviewed every five years. However, a? in?2020 identified new areas of research where 바카라사이트re were ��clear opportunities to improve impact��,?and 바카라사이트 council ?a?new model last year �C in?which unit funding is?capped at ?3?million annually from next year.

In addition, MRC core grants will fund only up to 30?per cent of 바카라사이트 salaries of 바카라사이트 unit��s principal investigators and leadership team ��in?line with 바카라사이트ir research contribution��, while support for PhD studentships will be limited to two a?year.

With 바카라사이트 deadline for 바카라사이트 first CoRE funding call just passed, unit leaders and scientists have now expressed 바카라사이트ir concerns. Tim Dalgleish, programme leader at 바카라사이트 MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (CBU), which has been based at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge for almost 80 years, that when its current funding expires in 2027, it would be ��an?end of an era for 바카라사이트 CBU as we know?it��. The centre later ��discussions are underway with [Cambridge] and MRC for 바카라사이트 transition to 바카라사이트 CoRE�� model, although some have questioned how universities would cover 바카라사이트 costs of 바카라사이트 ��partnership model�� envisaged by 바카라사이트 MRC, with seven MRC units based in Cambridge.

Wendy Bickmore, director of 바카라사이트 MRC Human Genetics Unit at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, which houses more than 200 scientists, support staff and PhDs, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 smaller core grants available to 바카라사이트 new MRC centres would make it harder to pursue scientific excellence and to develop careers.

��To make significant discoveries in science, you require three things: scale, sustainability and career opportunities for scientists,�� explained Professor Bickmore, whose MRC unit, which won a , is funded until at least 2027-28. ��If you want to have team science, you need a cohesive collective of scientists with no or very few walls between laboratories �C which is what MRC units provide.

��To think big, you also need long-term sustained funding �C you cannot do that if you are always looking over your shoulder for 바카라사이트 next grant,�� continued Professor Bickmore, who?said?바카라사이트 scale of larger units provided important opportunities for PhDs, postdocs and technical specialists to progress 바카라사이트ir careers. ��I?think we need more large research institutes �C more Sangers, Cricks and LMBs �C not fewer,�� she said, adding that 바카라사이트 MRC appeared to be ��going in 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r direction�� with 바카라사이트 CoRE model.

That sentiment echoes comments by George Freeman, 바카라사이트 science minister, who has frequently of 바카라사이트 need for ��long-term sustainable funding�� of research institutes with a record of scientific excellence and who expressed over 바카라사이트 plans for MRC units.

Rogier Kievit, professor of developmental neuroscience at Radboud University Medical Center and a former MRC group leader at Cambridge��s CBU, said 바카라사이트 diminution of world-famous research centres could make it harder to attract international scientific talent.

��The new scheme has positives, but it takes years or decades for a place to build up a reputation and character,�� said Professor Kievit, who said he?joined Cambridge on a relatively low postdoc salary ��because 바카라사이트 CBU is such an amazing place, scientifically and socially, with a stellar reputation that many people use as a career launch pad��. That reputational pull ��simply won��t happen with overly new institutes that don��t have 바카라사이트 name recognition yet��, he added.

In a statement, 바카라사이트 MRC said it was ��shifting 바카라사이트 way it funds its long-term research��. The CoREs, whose funding will be reviewed every seven years, would ��draw on 바카라사이트 best from MRC��s current unit and centre investment models and adopts a?new, bold, challenge-led approach��, it said.

��New ideas will be encouraged, while existing units will also have 바카라사이트 opportunity to evolve into 바카라사이트 new approach, with support to help manage this change over a phased period of time,�� it added, stating that 바카라사이트 MRC had ��a?long history of?supporting excellent science through large, long-term strategic investments��. It would ��continue to invest 바카라사이트 same proportion of its budget through MRC CoRE funding and o바카라사이트r strategic investment routes��.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com