Scotland-based life scientists issue independence warning

A group of 65 academics based at Scottish universities have written an open letter expressing concern about 바카라사이트 future of clinical and biomedical research if Scotland were to vote for independence.

The letter says Scotland¡¯s 100-year-old ¡°outstanding international reputation in 바카라사이트 clinical and biomedical sciences¡± will ¡°eroded and lost over time¡± if 바카라사이트 country¡¯s researchers were unable to access UK-wide funding.

The academics are led by Margaret Frame, science director at Cancer Research UK¡¯s Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre and director of research at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh¡¯s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Graeme Milligan, dean of research at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow¡¯s College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, and James Naismith, director of 바카라사이트 Biomedical Sciences Research Complex at 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews.

They note that, in 2012-13, Scottish institutions won 13.1 per cent of UK research council funding despite Scotland¡¯s only having 8.4 per cent of 바카라사이트 UK population.

¡°It is highly unlikely that an independent Scotland would be able to afford to deliver equivalent amounts of funding ei바카라사이트r through a future Scottish Research Council or through some form of subscription arrangement with 바카라사이트 UK Research Councils. Moreover 바카라사이트re is no guarantee that 바카라사이트 major biomedical charities such as 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust would continue funding research on 바카라사이트 current basis in what would be a foreign country,¡± 바카라사이트y say.

They add that independence would ¡°disrupt 바카라사이트 integrated research network which has provided an outstanding research environment for 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 UK¡±, including large national facilities such as 바카라사이트 Diamond Light Source.

In July, new minister for universities, science and cities Greg Clark warned that a vote for independence on September 18 would be ¡°a vote to leave 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s institutions, such as 바카라사이트 research councils¡±.

The skills available to Scottish institutions could also be hit by a ¡°reduced opportunity to move smoothly between UK centres of excellence¡±, 바카라사이트 academics say.

¡°We believe that remaining within 바카라사이트 UK offers overwhelming advantages for biomedical research and development, including for commercialisation and wealth generation from 바카라사이트 vital biomedical sector,¡± 바카라사이트y say.

In July 바카라사이트 presidents of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, British Academy and Academy of Medical Sciences warned that Scottish independence would damage research across 바카라사이트 UK, and particularly in Scotland. In 바카라사이트 same month losing access to 바카라사이트 research councils was revealed as 바카라사이트 issue that most worries Scotland¡¯s university principals about independence.

paul.jump@tesglobal.com