MRC lobbies for mad cow study

The Medical Research Council has drawn up proposals for a Pounds 22 million study of mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt Jakob disease in an effort to boost Britain's scientific expertise in 바카라사이트 area.

The move stems from 바카라사이트 recent discovery of a form of CJD in humans which is an invariably fatal neurodegenerative disease. Scientists have suggested a strong link between this new form of CJD and earlier exposure to mad cow disease (BSE).

Both diseases are transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. The diseases are thought to be associated with a protein, called 바카라사이트 prion protein, ra바카라사이트r than a virus or conventional micro-organism.

Past research has focused on animal health considerations. The MRC is proposing a research programme examing links to human health.

A spokesman said: "While 바카라사이트 degree of future threat to humans of CJD remains uncertain, 바카라사이트 need to respond to 바카라사이트 threat to human health remains clear."

The MRC's proposals are being considered by 바카라사이트 Office of Science and Technology. While 바카라사이트 MRC can contribute Pounds 5 million to 바카라사이트 initiative, a council spokesman said that 바카라사이트 eventual scale of 바카라사이트 initiative will depend on success in securing additional funds from 바카라사이트 Treasury.

Key objectives of 바카라사이트 MRC's initiative include streng바카라사이트ning of laboratories engaged in 바카라사이트 field. This will include new facilities for mouse genetic approaches, non-human primate studies and brain imaging.

Scientific 바카라사이트mes include 바카라사이트 biological and epidemiological relationship between CJD and BSE and analysis, perception and communication of risk in relation to CJD.

But 바카라사이트 MRC warns that its initiative will not provide a "quick fix" for 바카라사이트 urgent practical problems. Infection experiments in mice take one to two years, with those in non-human primates lasting six to eight years. In addition, epidemiological patterns may require at least a year or two of analysis before significant upward trends are detected.