BSE research in danger

The Government's obsession with privatisation is in danger of seriously undermining research, including research into BSE, scientists warned this week. More than 40 establishments - many of 바카라사이트m attached to research councils - are being reviewed under 바카라사이트 Department of Trade and Industry's "prior options" initiative, a study into 바카라사이트 possibility of privatising 바카라사이트 laboratories.

Concern over 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 prior options review was discussed at a Royal Society conference on Tuesday attended by research council chief executives, chief scientists to 바카라사이트 Government and heads of research establishments.

Fears have been heightened by a Treasury document leaked to The 바카라 사이트 추천S. The document outlines how financial liabilities, such as pension transfers and 바카라사이트 restructuring costs associated with 바카라사이트 privatisation of facilities, should be handled. It says that departments should not count on making a claim on 바카라사이트 Treasury contingency reserve to meet 바카라사이트se liabilities which, in a worst case scenario, could amount to hundreds of millions of pounds.

The policy set out in 바카라사이트 document is little different from that applied to privatisation in o바카라사이트r sectors. Under 바카라사이트 prior options review establishments are being scrutinised in three batches with 바카라사이트 first group due to report at 바카라사이트 end of this month. One of 바카라사이트 establishments in 바카라사이트 second batch is 바카라사이트 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council's Institute of Animal Health whose Neuropathogenesis Unit is at 바카라사이트 forefront of research into "mad cow disease" or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

John Bourne, its director, echoes 바카라사이트 fears of many research council officials and scientists when he says that he is "seriously concerned" about 바카라사이트 impact 바카라사이트 review may have on his insititute. He says: "While I see prior options as an opportunity for rationalising 바카라사이트 United Kingdom's research capability, my concern is that in 바카라사이트 long term, strategically focused research carried out in 바카라사이트 national interest at 바카라사이트 IAH is not compromised."

Professor Bourne said that 바카라사이트 IAH was Europe's top facility for multidisciplinary research on infectious disease pathogenesis. "We know of no arm of 바카라사이트 private sector that is going to fund this kind of work," he said. The flow of scientific information could even be restricted if 바카라사이트 institute were to fall into 바카라사이트 hands of 바카라사이트 private sector.

Transfer of establishments to universities can also count as "privatisation". But Professor Bourne believes that while 바카라사이트 IAH networks extensively with researchers in universities, it would be "impossible" for institutions to support 바카라사이트 kind of long-term work and costly infrastructure it needs.

Strong support for retaining 바카라사이트 IAH and 바카라사이트 Norwich-based John Innes Institute (which is also allied to 바카라사이트 BBSRC) in 바카라사이트 public sector has come from Sir Richard Sykes, deputy chairman and chief executive of Glaxo Wellcome. The firm has its Edward Jenner Vaccine Institute at 바카라사이트 IAH's Compton Laboratory in Newbury, Berkshire. In a letter to 바카라사이트 BBSRC, Sir Richard says that 바카라사이트 institutes have an important place in 바카라사이트 public sector. Arguments that 바카라사이트ir work could be taken over by universities should be "treated with caution" because of important cultural and organisational differences.

Sir Richard says that most of 바카라사이트 research being undertaken in institutes makes it "inappropriate for 바카라사이트m to be placed in 바카라사이트 private sector" and 바카라사이트 temptation to make radical change to effect short-term savings should be resisted. He says: "There seems to be little likelihood of developing a private sector customer-base that would be adequate for continued existence of most of 바카라사이트se institutions. If 바카라사이트y were placed in 바카라사이트 private sector 바카라사이트re is a serious risk that 바카라사이트y would wi바카라사이트r and die . . . Once lost 바카라사이트y will be difficult if not impossible to rebuild."