Medical Research CouncilOver his 40-year career, Millennium Medal 2020 winner Professor Sir Rory Collins’ #research and leadership has has an enormous impact - from the millions of lives saved through discovering how statins can prevent #heartattacks and #strokes, to visionary leadership of the UK Biobank.
Sarah Trenfield, a Strategic Stakeholder Engagement Manager at the Medical Research Council, spoke to Sir Rory about his fascinating career and the inspirations that led him towards it.
The MRC Millennium Medal is MRC’s most prestigious personal prize. It is presented annually to an exceptional researcher who has made a major contribution towards MRC’s mission to improve human health through world-class medical research.
01:14 How did you feel when you found out that you had won the MRC Millennium Medal 2020? 02:03 Can you tell us about your research? 04:20 Can you tell us about the clinical trials you ran that showed that statins are effective at preventing heart attacks and strokes? 08:43 How widely are statins used now around the world? 10:36 Can you tell us about the megatrials you ran for the emergency treatment of heart attacks? 18:00 Have trials expanded in size as a result of your research? 19:29 How has your research aided the COVID-19 pandemic? 21:20 How does it make you feel that your research has had and is still having such major impact? 24:20 Public interest in science and participation in research studies has increased because of COVID-19. What lessons can we take from this going forward? 27:28 Can you tell us a bit more about UK Biobank? 32:20 Can you comment on which diseases UK Biobank has helped to understand further? 38:21 Can you tell us how data from UK Biobank has aided research into COVID-19? 45:24 What is next for you and your research? 46:43 What advice can you give to those early on in their research careers? 48:43 Can you tell us more about your MRC Millennium Medal awards ceremony talk? 50:08 Do you have any last thoughts / remarks?
Celebrating 100 Years of Life-Changing Discoveries | Neurotransmitters from Dale to Davies ▶️ youtube.com/watch?v=Gu211pnQapI
Celebrating 100 years of Discoveries | DNA from Watson, Crick and Franklin to Ramakrishnan ▶️ youtube.com/watch?v=rDqJTH9odKs
ABOUT THE MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (MRC)
The Medical Research Council (MRC) improves the health of people in the UK – and around the world – by supporting excellent science, and training the very best scientists.
MRC Millennium Medal 2020 | Interview with Professor Sir Rory CollinsMedical Research Council2021-03-17 | Over his 40-year career, Millennium Medal 2020 winner Professor Sir Rory Collins’ #research and leadership has has an enormous impact - from the millions of lives saved through discovering how statins can prevent #heartattacks and #strokes, to visionary leadership of the UK Biobank.
Sarah Trenfield, a Strategic Stakeholder Engagement Manager at the Medical Research Council, spoke to Sir Rory about his fascinating career and the inspirations that led him towards it.
The MRC Millennium Medal is MRC’s most prestigious personal prize. It is presented annually to an exceptional researcher who has made a major contribution towards MRC’s mission to improve human health through world-class medical research.
01:14 How did you feel when you found out that you had won the MRC Millennium Medal 2020? 02:03 Can you tell us about your research? 04:20 Can you tell us about the clinical trials you ran that showed that statins are effective at preventing heart attacks and strokes? 08:43 How widely are statins used now around the world? 10:36 Can you tell us about the megatrials you ran for the emergency treatment of heart attacks? 18:00 Have trials expanded in size as a result of your research? 19:29 How has your research aided the COVID-19 pandemic? 21:20 How does it make you feel that your research has had and is still having such major impact? 24:20 Public interest in science and participation in research studies has increased because of COVID-19. What lessons can we take from this going forward? 27:28 Can you tell us a bit more about UK Biobank? 32:20 Can you comment on which diseases UK Biobank has helped to understand further? 38:21 Can you tell us how data from UK Biobank has aided research into COVID-19? 45:24 What is next for you and your research? 46:43 What advice can you give to those early on in their research careers? 48:43 Can you tell us more about your MRC Millennium Medal awards ceremony talk? 50:08 Do you have any last thoughts / remarks?
Celebrating 100 Years of Life-Changing Discoveries | Neurotransmitters from Dale to Davies ▶️ youtube.com/watch?v=Gu211pnQapI
Celebrating 100 years of Discoveries | DNA from Watson, Crick and Franklin to Ramakrishnan ▶️ youtube.com/watch?v=rDqJTH9odKs
ABOUT THE MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (MRC)
The Medical Research Council (MRC) improves the health of people in the UK – and around the world – by supporting excellent science, and training the very best scientists.
#MRC #Medicine #MedicalSciences #MedicalResearch #Innovation #HealthMRC Fellowships - transition to the new Funding Service (TFS) webinarMedical Research Council2023-07-28 | This webinar focusses on the MRC’s fellowships transition to the new Funding Service (TFS). In particular, the following opportunities closing, September 2023:
• Career development award • Clinical research training fellowship • Clinician scientist fellowship • Senior non-clinical fellowships
It includes information, tips and a question and answer session to a panel of MRC staff from applicants and research offices.
Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 2:17 Presentation on MRC fellowships - transition to the funding service 22:39 Question and Answer Session with MRC panelMRC responsive mode research boards - transition to the new Funding Service (TFS) webinarMedical Research Council2023-07-07 | This webinar focuses on the MRC’s responsive mode research boards transition to the new Funding Service (TFS). In particular, the following opportunities closing, September 2023:
• Neurosciences and Mental Health Board • Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board • Infections and Immunity Board • Population and Systems Medicine Board
The webinar includes information, tips and a question and answer session to a panel of MRC staff from applicants and research offices.
Timestamps: 02:51- Presentation on MRC responsive mode research boards - transition to the funding service 20:24 - Question and Answer Session with MRC panelRandomised trials in pandemics: essential, not a luxury - April 2022Medical Research Council2023-07-05 | During this talk, Professor Richard Haynes (RECOVERY trial co-ordinator) will give us insights into his work on RECOVERY, the important findings from the trial and it’s future directions.
Pandemics disrupt communities and their healthcare systems, putting them under extraordinary pressure. Consequently, conducting randomised trials in these circumstances has not usually been successful, despite the urgent need for evidence to distinguish treatments with moderate benefits from treatments without benefit (which may even be harmful).
The RECOVERY trial broke this mould and was set up in 9 days in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the UK. It has randomised over 47,000 patients and successfully identified effective treatments which have had a substantial public health impact (and also importantly identified treatments that are ineffective, thus sparing resources). RECOVERY continues to assess newer therapies for COVID-19, both in the UK and internationally.Its about time: could early changes be the key to intervention for neurodegenerative disease?Medical Research Council2023-07-05 | During this talk, Dr Beccano-Kelly describes his research which uses stem cells as a model system for PD to understand when changes leading to PD occur and how this information can be used to find a window where current treatments would be most effective.
As ageing populations increase across the UK and Europe, the rates of age-related neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s Disease are set to rise substantially.
All neurodegenerative diseases primarily affect the neurons, or cells, in the human brain. Unlike other cells in the body, neuronal cells normally don’t reproduce or replace themselves when they become damaged or die. This currently makes these conditions incurable and difficult to treat. Identification of the early changes that occur in neuronal cells during the development of disease could allow treatment optimisation to delay the onset cell death and symptoms of disease.Tracking mental health and wellbeing to help young people SHINE - June 2022Medical Research Council2023-07-05 | During this talk, SHINE Co-Director Dr Joanna Inchley provides insight into how SHINE’s tracking and research on aspects of wellbeing in adolescents can improve their health and wellbeing by guiding schools and policy makers to implement appropriate interventions.
Pupil health and academic attainment are intertwined. Healthier pupils have higher attainment and, in the longer term, those who achieve better educational outcomes have better health and wellbeing.
The Schools Health and Wellbeing Improvement Research Network (SHINE) is a national network that was set up to support schools in addressing health and wellbeing needs of their students, with a particular focus on mental health.Cancer: the great cell corrupter - March 2022Medical Research Council2023-07-05 | During this talk, Professor Malanchi describes her research which seeks to understand how cancer cells interact with healthy cells in the body and corrupt them to support tumour growth. By understanding more about this process, researchers can identify new ways to tackle the disease in the future.
The cells in each of our bodies work together to form highly specialised tissues and organs, following strict biological rules telling them how to behave. Cancer starts when cells break these rules. They start to misbehave and forget their correct role, growing out of control and spreading through the body (metastasising) to form secondary tumours.
We now know that cancer cells do not act completely independently. Instead, they send out signals that corrupt the healthy cells around them, encouraging them to create an environment in which the cancer cells can thrive.
As a result, tumours are made not just of cancer cells but also from a variety of abnormally behaving host cells, creating the condition for cancer growth.MRC Millennium Medal 2022 Award LecturesMedical Research Council2023-05-10 | Talks from 2022 MRC Millennium Medal winners Professor Lisa Hall and Professor Sarah Tabrizi.
The MRC Millennium Medal is MRC’s most prestigious personal prize. It is presented annually to an exceptional researcher who has made a major contribution towards MRC’s mission to improve human health through world-class medical research.
open science impact outstanding team impact early career impact
At an award ceremony held on 14 March 2023, the open science impact prize went to the COMET (Core Outcome Measures for Effectiveness Trials) team from the University of Liverpool, for research into improving how patient outcomes are selected and measured in clinical trials.
The University of Oxford RECOVERY Trial team won the outstanding team impact prize for the world’s largest study of COVID-19 therapies that saved a million lives worldwide.
And Dr Amy Orben and Dr Segun Fatumo were joint winners of the early career impact prize for their work respectively in championing early-career researchers and in genetic risk prediction of complex diseases in Africa.
Each winner received £20,000 to widen the outreach or impact of their work or to advance their learning or development.
More about MRC awards and recognition: ukri.org/what-we-offer/prizes/mrc-awards-and-recognitionLanding Multiple Long-Term Conditions (MLTC) Research in the Health & Care System | EventMedical Research Council2023-03-08 | This event was hosted by NIHR and UKRI as part of the UKRI/NIHR ‘Tackling Multimorbidity at Scale’ Programme to support researchers in understanding how to effectively engage with and influence policy makers in the health and care system. Prof Chris Salisbury (University of Bristol) chaired the event.
Prof Lucy Chappell (Chief Executive of NIHR and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care) provided a keynote address. Two panel sessions followed this keynote.
The first panel featured researchers with experience in implementing MLTC research. The second panel was comprised of policy makers from across the UK health and care system, who shared tips on best practices for engaging with and influencing policymakers in MLTC.
Breakout group discussions led to the plenary summarisation of the main facilitators and barriers to implementing MLTC research findings.Why mentoring matters for a career in medical sciencesMedical Research Council2022-11-14 | The support of an independent mentor can be transformative for early career researchers, but not everyone feels confident about taking the first step. What are the benefits of mentoring and how do you get the most out of a mentoring relationship?
We spoke to mentees and mentors on the Academy of Medical Sciences mentoring programme about the benefits of mentoring and why it matters for a career in medical sciences. The scheme is co-funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and offers the opportunity for eligible MRC fellows and new investigators to be matched with Academy Fellows who can provide personalised guidance and support.
Timestamps: 00:00 - Start 00:06 - The benefits of mentoring 1:03 - The mentoring relationship 1:53 - The academy of medical sciences mentoring programme 2:27 - The value of mentorship for women 3:28 - The mentoring experience 4:17 - EndsMRC Max Perutz Science Writing Award: 25 Years of ImpactMedical Research Council2022-10-25 | The MRC Max Perutz Science Writing Award is our annual writing competition that encourages MRC PhD students to write about their research and why it matters in an engaging way for a non-scientific audience.
This year marks 25 years since the awards began. We spoke to some of our past winners about what they gained from entering the award, what impact it has had on their career and why they'd encourage others to enter.
00:00 – MaxP22 animated logo sting 00:15 – MRC Max Perutz Science Writing Award: 25 Years of Impact (title card) 00:21 – About the award and Max Perutz 01:12 – What did you gain from entering the award? 01:17 – Vicky Bennett (2021 Winner) 01:35 – Katrina Wesencraft (2019 Shortlist) 01:57 – Chris van Tulleken (2014 Winner) 02:27 – What impact has the award had on your career? 02:32 – Chris van Tulleken (2014 Winner) 03:02 – Professor Andrew Bastawrous (2012 Winner) 03:44 – Why should others enter? 03:49 – Dr Liza Selley (2016 Winner) 04:24 – Dr Jacqueline Maybin (2009 Winner) 04:49 – For more information 05:00 – Ends
For more information about the awards visit our website: ukri.org/what-we-offer/prizes/mrc-awards-and-recognition/mrc-max-perutz-science-writing-awardTackling Fungi That Cause Lung Disease | A Multiscale ApproachMedical Research Council2022-02-28 | #Lungdiseases caused by fungal species of the Aspergillus genus affect millions of people annually. While many people recover from these infections, in settings of severe underlying disease or immune dysfunction they can often be fatal. Expansion of at-risk patient populations, including those infected by #COVID19 and #influenza, is combining with rapidly increasing rates of antifungal drug resistance to threaten utility of the few available antifungal drugs.
During her talk, Professor Elaine Bignell from the MRC Medical Mycology Centre at the University of Exeter gives us insights into her #research which seeks to understand the mechanisms of how Aspergillus fungi cause lung disease with a view to developing novel diagnostics and antifungal therapies. Her approach integrates infection models which transcend multiple experimental scales to address disease outcomes at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ and whole animal levels.
Of all microbial pathogens of humans, fungi are the least well studied and understood. The cost of diagnosing and treating fungal infections also has major economic impact. The MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (MRC CMM) enables this group of researchers to utilise and expand its critical mass, promoting pioneering cross-disciplinary research that covers areas of scientific, translational and clinical importance.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) improves the health of people in the UK – and around the world – by supporting excellent science, and training the very best scientists.
#MRC #Medicine #MedicalSciences #MedicalResearch #Innovation #HealthFrom COVID-19 to malaria research in West Africa - Genomics at MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTMMedical Research Council2022-01-28 | Since its establishment in 2017, the genomics core facility at MRC Unit The Gambia has played a critical role in training scientists and collaborators in West Africa, facilitating West African capacity-building in Genomics.
In December 2021, we were joined by Assistant Professor Abdul Sesay and Associate Professor Alfred Ngwa from MRC Unit The Gambia who gave us insights into how the core facility is used to support malaria research at the Unit and facilitate COVID-19 testing there and beyond.
#COVID19Linking discovery science and medicine to drive innovation and healthMedical Research Council2021-12-09 | The MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS) is a biomedical research institute where scientists and clinicians collaborate to advance the understanding of biology and its application to medicine.
Researchers at LMS aim to address major health challenges such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer; investigate the interplay between genes and environment; and understand the molecular basis of disease, development and ageing.
In order to pursue world-leading discovery science, the LMS places an emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches through collaborations with colleagues working in engineering, natural sciences and medicine.
During her seminar, Professor Petra Hajkova gives insights into the world-leading research taking place at LMS and will highlight some of the exciting research taking place there.
We are part of UK Research and Innovation, the body that allocates government funds for research. If you're a UK taxpayer, your contributions help fund the work we showcase on our channel.
Follow us on these channels: Twitter: twitter.com/The_MRC Medium: medium.com/@UKRI Instagram: instagram.com/weareukri Facebook: facebook.com/weareUKRIPurer air for optimal health, by accident or designMedical Research Council2021-11-12 | In the run up to COP26, when leaders from around the globe gather in Glasgow to agree on policies to ensure global net zero emissions, Dr Ian Mudway (Senior Lecturer in Environmental Toxicology within the MRC Centre for Environment and Health at Imperial College London) joined us to give us insights into his research on the effects of air pollution on human health.
During his talk, Dr Mudway describes work that he and his team have done to analyse the effect of air quality on human health and how this information can be used to evaluate government environmental policies, such as the creation of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London.
We are part of UK Research and Innovation, the body that allocates government funds for research. If you're a UK taxpayer, your contributions help fund the work we showcase on our channel.
Follow us on these channels: Twitter: twitter.com/The_MRC Medium: medium.com/@UKRI Instagram: instagram.com/weareukri Facebook: facebook.com/weareUKRIMRC Max Perutz Science Writing Award 2021: Meet the shortlist #MaxP21Medical Research Council2021-11-12 | Find out more about the shortlisted entrants of the 2021 Max Perutz Science Writing Award as they reveal what motivates their research, their reasons for entering the competition and the importance of communicating about their research to a public audience.
00:04 What motivated your research? 01:16 Why did you enter the Max Perutz Science Writing competition? 02:40 What have you learned from this competition that has helped you develop your writing? 03:46 Why is it important to communicate science research to the public?
The Medical Research Council are part of UK Research and Innovation, the body that allocates government funds for research. If you're a UK taxpayer, your contributions help fund the work we showcase on our channel.
00:34 – Ceremony Opening by Sue Nelson – Science Journalist & Broadcaster, Boffin Media 06:09 – Welcome Address by Chair of the VIP Judging Panel, Professor Fiona Watt – MRC Executive Chair 12:36 – Talk by the Son of Max Perutz and Special Guest Speaker, Professor Robin Perutz, FRS – Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of York 22:48 – Introduction to the 2021 Shortlisted Students 29:46 – Presentation of Awards and Prizes by Members of the VIP Judging Panel 30:30 – Commended Prize by VIP Judge, Dr Furaha Asani – Researcher and Writer 32:15 – Runner-up Prize by VIP Judge, Dr Roger Highfield – MRC Council Member and Science Director of the Science Museum Group 33:58 – 2021 Winner by VIP Judge, Ian Tucker – Science and Technology Editor of The Observer 36:11 – Excerpt from Winning Article by VIP Judge, Gaia Vince – Journalist, Author & Broadcaster 39:20 – Closing Remarks by Chair of the VIP Judging Panel, Professor Fiona Watt – MRC Executive Chair
The Medical Research Council are part of UK Research and Innovation, the body that allocates government funds for research. If you're a UK taxpayer, your contributions help fund the work we showcase on our channel.
And if you liked this video, follow us on these channels: Twitter: twitter.com/The_MRC Medium: medium.com/@UKRI Instagram: instagram.com/weareukri Facebook: facebook.com/weareUKRIMaking food systems able to withstand climate change in West Africa: Zakari Ali, MRC Unit The GambiaMedical Research Council2021-11-03 | Zakari Ali is PhD student based at MRC Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Zakari’s research focuses on finding ways for West African food systems to adapt to the negative consequences of climate change.
Climate change is already affecting the ability of food systems in West Africa to produce the food that they need, in particular the vulnerable who rely solely on the food they can produce in their own farms.
“This is even projected to become worse in the future and yet these countries have contributed very little to the negative impacts. I hope that by the end of COP26 there’ll be clear deliverable strategies to build the capacities of these countries to cope against the negative consequences of climate change on food systems in West Africa”, says Zakari.
We are part of UK Research and Innovation, the body that allocates government funds for research. If you're a UK taxpayer, your contributions help fund the work we showcase on our channel.
And if you liked this video, follow us on these channels: Twitter: twitter.com/The_MRC Medium: medium.com/@UKRI Instagram: instagram.com/weareukri Facebook: facebook.com/weareUKRIWhy world leaders must take action to achieve #NetZero: Mortala Ndow, MRC Unit The GambiaMedical Research Council2021-11-03 | Mortala Ndow is a Programme Manager at the Medical Research Unit in The Gambia and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Mortala explains that climate change has become the greatest factor to hamper socioeconomic development in developing countries.
“We want to see the developed world leaders take decisive action to curb the use of fossil fuel and then invest in renewable energy so that carbon emissions can be neutralised to zero levels”.
We are part of UK Research and Innovation, the body that allocates government funds for research. If you're a UK taxpayer, your contributions help fund the work we showcase on our channel.
And if you liked this video, follow us on these channels:
Stephanie’s team is looking to understand the impact on human health from plastic pollution in the form of microplastics. These microscopic particles and fibres are created when plastic is produced, but they are so small, they are invisible to the naked eye. Elevated exposure to other types of particles in the air can lead to disease and premature mortality, but we don’t know role microplastic has within that.
Microplastics come from a range of sources from clothes and carpets to transport and construction, so to minimise our exposure and improve health we need to reduce plastic production and by doing so we will be reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“This is an important challenge to solve because we know that efforts are being made to regulate other sources of air pollution, and are being successful, but plastic and microplastic release is not being regulated, so as other emissions start to tail off and drop, the proportion of microplastic in air pollution is going to increase, and so it really is an issue if not now, for the future”, said Stephanie.
We are part of UK Research and Innovation, the body that allocates government funds for research. If you're a UK taxpayer, your contributions help fund the work we showcase on our channel. And if you liked this video, follow us on these channels:
Dam Khan is a PhD student at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine but is currently based in The Gambia. Dam is currently working on a project looking into how different household air pollutions impact the important bacteria in diseases and how they can be reduced.
“In rural settlements in Africa, the use of firewood and other biomass is for cooking is very common and this can pollute the air that we breathe. No one is safe from the health impacts of climate change, but the health impacts of using biomass fuel for cooking disproportionately affects households in rural communities in Africa.
“COP26 is a fitting platform to discuss alternative sources of fuel which is fit for use in households in rural Africa” says Dam.Making transport #NetZero for better health: Ian Mudway, MRC Centre for Environment and HealthMedical Research Council2021-10-25 | In the run-up to COP26, we asked our researchers to tell us about their work and the challenges of tackling climate change.
Dr Ian Mudway from the MRC Centre for Environment and Health, based at the Imperial College in London, is focusing on reducing emissions from the transport sector to help achieve the net zero objectives.
Alongside this, Ian’s work looks at how reducing emissions also has a huge benefit on our health.
“Tackling emissions from the transport sector, not just shipping, not just aircraft, is absolutely essential towards us meeting our net zero objectives. This targeting comes with considerable healthcare benefits because we know that the emissions from the tailpipes of gasoline and diesel vehicles contribute to significant burden of ill health within the population” says Ian.
#NetZero #CleanTransport
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Sign up for our newslettter at public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKRI/subscriber/new?topic_id=UKRI_newsletterWhat drugs do to our bugsMedical Research Council2021-10-13 | Therapeutic drugs are designed to target specific cells in our bodies in order to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of certain diseases or conditions. However, as well as targeting our own cells, therapeutics can also affect our intestinal microbiome - the diverse range of bacteria found in our gut. Our microbiome is fundamental to our development and health, and its dysfunction or disruption contributes to various diseases such as diabetes, cancer and Parkinson’s.
In September's MRC Seminar Series, Dr Patil from the MRC Toxicology Unit explains how drug therapies can affect our microbiome, what impacts these drug-microbiome interactions can have on our microbiome and how this can influence drug development and drug personalisation.MRC Fellowships | Myths and Misconceptions AddressedMedical Research Council2021-10-06 | Watch to hear from the funding panels and current fellows at the MRC as they discuss some of the common misconceptions around MRC fellowships.
MRC fellowships are personal awards for talented researchers to support key transition points in their careers. Many of today’s leading biomedical and health researchers look back on their MRC fellowship as a significant stepping stone in developing their career.
MRC offers a range of fellowships to meet diverse needs, allowing training placements in the UK, abroad or in industry.
MRC fellowships support: - Individuals transitioning to the next level in their careers, normally through a change from an existing/current role - Protected time to focus on your own research, shielded from other professional commitments; clinicians can undertake clinical duties as part of their award - Funding for a challenging research project and an ambitious programme of research training that offers accelerated personal and career development - Progression towards fulfilling long term career goals, which includes an aspiration to strengthening the UK research base - A clear commitment from the host research organisation to supporting, developing and mentoring the fellow.
00:16 – Will it count against me if I have taken career breaks? 02:14 – Will I need to move to another research organisation for my fellowship? 03:29 – Can I get advice on my proposal before applying? 05:47 – Do you use journal impact factors to evaluate the track record of candidates?
MRC Research Fellowship | Preparing for an Interview for a Clinical Research Training Fellowship ▶️ youtube.com/watch?v=DA0vX65rjhs
ABOUT THE MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (MRC)
The Medical Research Council (MRC) improves the health of people in the UK – and around the world – by supporting excellent science, and training the very best scientists.
#MRC #Medicine #MedicalSciences #MedicalResearch #Innovation #HealthResearching the causes and prevention of type 2 diabetesMedical Research Council2021-09-14 | Type 2 diabetes is a major cause of ill health and mortality. It is estimated that 463 million people have diabetes worldwide and that by 2045 this number will have risen to 700 million.
In July 2021, Professor Nick Wareham (Director of the MRC Epidemiology Unit, Co-Director of the Institute of Metabolic Science, Honorary Consultant at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Cambridge), joined us for the MRC Seminar Series to share how work taking place at the MRC Epidemiology Unit has contributed to the understanding the causes of type 2 diabetes and the translation of that knowledge into preventive action through early detection and interventions targeted at high risk groups.
He also outlined how these individual-level approaches need to be balanced by research that informs societal level change in the determinants of risk.Treating the Coronavirus | Reducing the Odds of Developing Severe DiseaseMedical Research Council2021-09-03 | A promising treatment for #COVID19, now being prepared for major trials in the UK, the US and India, grows out of #research supported by the Medical Research Council over more than five decades, and dating back to the discovery of coronaviruses.
The work of MRC-supported researchers provided global leadership and world-leading research in clinical trial implementation, health data management, #vaccine development and genomic surveillance through sequencing from early 2020.
RECOVERY, the first and largest clinical trial for identifying treatments for COVID-19, currently has over 40,000 participants and 180 active sites across the world. It has investigated 10 potential treatments, and in its first year definitely ruled out four of these. The trial has saved an estimated 22,000 lives in the UK and one million lives worldwide through the early identification of dexamethasone, the first effective treatment for patients hospitalised with severe COVID-19.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) improves the health of people in the UK – and around the world – by supporting excellent science, and training the very best scientists.
#MRC #Medicine #MedicalSciences #MedicalResearch #Innovation #HealthPrevention of osteoporotic fractures throughout the lifecourseMedical Research Council2021-08-09 | In May, the MRC Seminar Series welcomed Professor Cyrus Cooper OBE, DL, FMedSci, Director of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit at the University of Southampton.
Professor Cooper provided an insight into how the epidemiological research at the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit has identified risk factors - including genetics, low body mass index, poor diet, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and lack of exercise physical inactivity - for bone fractures in later life. He also discussed their work on identifying preventive strategies against fractures, such as maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy (which enhances childhood bone mineral accrual) as well as primary and secondary preventive strategies involving risk assessment and treatment during later adult life.LEAF – Improving the environmental sustainability of science laboratoriesMedical Research Council2021-07-21 | In honour of World Environment Day, Martin Farley (Sustainable Research Manager, UCL and KCL), Susan Simon (Director Capital & Estates, Medical Research Council) and Rebeca Pereira Crespo Fiadeiro (PhD Student at MRC LMS and Founder of Greening LMS), joined us for the MRC Seminar Series on 4th June.
The MRC is committed to ensuring that its activities are environmentally sustainable. In addition to considerations such as transformation of the existing estate, planning and designing future facilities, increasing biodiversity on our sites and reducing our carbon footprint from travelling, another key aspect of our approach to sustainability is sustainable practice in research laboratories. MRC is leading activities to research practical solutions in this area, together with the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS and NERC, with Wellcome Trust also having interest in joining.
This seminar focused on LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework), which provides a structure and advice to scientists and research organisations to improve the environmental sustainability in their daily tasks. During the seminar, Martin Farley introduced the framework and how it works and Rebeca Pereira Crespo Fiadeiro from MRC London Institute of Medical Science, which has achieved LEAF Bronze standard, described the work of the green group at MRC LMS and how LEAF has supported their work.
#NetZeroGenetic Causes of Parkinsons Disease | Understanding the LRRK2 Kinase Signalling PathwayMedical Research Council2021-07-16 | #Parkinson’s #disease is the fastest growing #neurological condition in the world and there is still no cure. Every week, 350 people are diagnosed with the condition in the UK.
While the underlying cause for Parkinson’s disease is largely unknown, the discovery of rare genetic forms of the condition has provided crucial insight into cellular processes altered in Parkinson’s disease. Genetic changes in the gene known as Leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is now recognised as one of the most common genetic causes for the disease.
During her seminar, Dr Esther Sammler gives a brief overview of basic science discoveries that have led to a better understanding of the LRRK2 signalling pathway in health and disease. She also gives insights into her own translational Parkinson’s disease research programme which exploits the knowledge and reagents generated from the cutting-edge basic research at the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit in Dundee and elsewhere.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) improves the health of people in the UK – and around the world – by supporting excellent science, and training the very best scientists.
#MRC #Medicine #MedicalSciences #MedicalResearch #Innovation #HealthAsk the experts, featuring the 2020 MRC Max Perutz Science Writing Award winnerMedical Research Council2021-06-10 | Sarah Taylor, winner of the 2020 Max Perutz Science Writing Award, joins experts Andy Ridgway and Dr Roger Highfield to give guidance on how entrants can take their article to the next level based on the most asked questions.
00:00:00 – Welcome and introductions 00:03:57 – Top five tips from 2020 Award Winner, Sarah Taylor 00:08:50 – Questions about formatting 00:10:22 – Questions about animal research 00:11:24 – Questions about structure and language 00:21:16 – Questions about audience engagement and scope 00:26:27 – Q&A 00:49:57 – Important reminders 00:54:47 – Ends
Andy Ridgway is an award-winning journalist with over 20 years experience and a Senior Lecturer in Science Communication at UWE Bristol. Roger Highfield is the Science Director at the Science Museum, as well as an author, journalist and broadcaster.
The MRC Max Perutz Science Writing Award is in its 24th year, supporting current MRC PhD students to become tomorrow’s leaders in discovery science and encourage outstanding written communication.
#SciComm #ScienceWritingScience writing tips from the expertsMedical Research Council2021-06-10 | Science writing experts Andy Ridgway and Dr Roger Highfield provide their provide their essential tips on writing for a non-scientific audience in this webinar for the MRC Max Perutz Science Writing Award.
Andy Ridgway is an award-winning journalist with over 20 years experience and a Senior Lecturer in Science Communication at UWE Bristol. Roger Highfield is the Science Director at the Science Museum, as well as an author, journalist and broadcaster.
The MRC Max Perutz Science Writing Award is in its 24th year, supporting current MRC PhD students to become tomorrow’s leaders in discovery science and encourage outstanding written communication.
00:00:00 – Welcome and introductions 00:01:57 – Why should you enter? 00:03:32 – Developing your story 00:06:13 – Think about your audience 00:08:43 – Writing structure 00:14:37 – Final tips 00:18:33 – Q&A 00:26:33 – Important reminders 00:29:45 – Ends
#SciComm #ScienceWritingDr John O’Neill on Circadian Temkeeping | Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Jet LagMedical Research Council2021-04-19 | Dr John O’Neill’s research focuses on the key mechanisms of cellular circadian timekeeping and how the many daily rhythms in our biology come about. He spoke to MRC about his research in March 2021 as part of our seminar series.
A biological clock in every cell allows our bodies to prepare for the differing demands of day and night, by driving #circadianrhythms in our performance and physiology. Normally our body clocks are fine-tuned each day by the schedule we keep, particularly the timing of meals and light exposure.
When we see bright light or eat at the wrong time, as in #jetlag or shift work, it disrupts our internal rhythms and increases the risk of #chronicillness. Conversely, the effectiveness of many drugs and surgeries can vary with the biological time of treatment.
Delineating the molecular mechanisms that impart daily rhythms to our biology is therefore important for understanding human health and may provide new insights into the prevention and treatment of many diseases.
Dr John O’Neill’s current #research is focused on understanding the fundamental mechanisms of daily cellular timekeeping and how circadian regulation of biological function is achieved. To achieve these goals he employs a wide range of molecular biology, proteomic, metabolomic and biochemical techniques, supported by real-time fluorescent and bioluminescent reporters.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) improves the health of people in the UK – and around the world – by supporting excellent science, and training the very best scientists.
#MRC #Medicine #MedicalSciences #MedicalResearch #Innovation #HealthMRC Millenium Medal 2020 Awards CeremonyMedical Research Council2021-03-30 | The 20th annual MRC Millennium Medal awards ceremony was held online in March 2021. This is MRC’s most prestigious personal award presented annually to an exceptional scientist who has made a major contribution towards the MRC’s mission to improve health, quality of life and wealth creation. #MillenniumMedal20Millennium Medal 2020 part one: Advice for your career in medical researchMedical Research Council2021-03-17 | In part one of our Millennium Medal 2020 series, winner Professor Sir Rory Collins shares why he fell in love with medical research as a young doctor and provides advice to those just beginning their research journey.
The MRC improves the health of people in the UK - and around the world - by supporting excellent science, and training the very best scientists.
Find out more here: mrc.ukri.org/aboutMillennium Medal 2020 part two: A 40-year career of discovery and leadershipMedical Research Council2021-03-17 | In part two of the Millennium Medal 2020 series, Professor Sir Rory Collins describes the two main clinical trials he led during his career that has undoubtedly saved many lives around the world.
During the 1980s, he led the ‘ISIS-2 (Second International Study of Infarct Survival) megatrials for the emergency treatment of heart attacks which showed that prompt treatment using streptokinase (a clot-dissolving therapy) with aspirin (a clot-preventing therapy) reduced mortality by 50%. He also led the MRC and British Heart Foundation's Heart Protection Study in the 1990s which showed for the first time that statins were safe and effective for the prevention of heart attacks and strokes.
The MRC improves the health of people in the UK - and around the world - by supporting excellent science, and training the very best scientists.
Find out more here: mrc.ukri.org/aboutTracking viral mutations to understand SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology and evolutionMedical Research Council2021-02-16 | Dr James Shepherd from the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research presented at the MRC Seminar Series in January 2021. During his seminar he discussed how pathogen genome sequencing continues to be an important tool to monitor for viral adaptation to interventions such as vaccines as the pandemic continues into 2021. He also discussed how he and his team have used this technique to understand the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into Scotland and how it has allowed them to understand the drivers of the second wave of infection that began in the Autumn of 2020.HDR UK and the role of health data in the UK’s response to COVID-19Medical Research Council2021-01-13 | In the December 2020 instalment of the MRC Seminar Series, Melissa Lewis Brown (Interim Chief Science Strategy Officer) at HDR UK discussed HDR UK’s work to unite the UK’s health datasets, its vision for how large-scale data and advanced analytics can benefit the health sector to improve people’s lives, and what they have learnt about COVID-19 from their work this year. Watch the rest of the 2020 seminars here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSus4fp7v7sQuXdUwREyHbUMR8cqNZKYjKeeping a cool head: how doctors treat brain damage after birthMedical Research Council2020-12-10 | Professor David Edwards (MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders) gives fascinating insights into his team’s work in the discovery and implementation of mild hypothermia as a treatment for birth asphyxia. This talk was the November seminar in the MRC's 2020 seminar series. Watch the others here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSus4fp7v7sQuXdUwREyHbUMR8cqNZKYjNC3Rs - Pioneering better scienceMedical Research Council2020-12-10 | Speakers: Dr Anthony Holmes (Director of Science and Technology) and Dr Nathalie Percie du Sert (Head of Experimental Design and Reporting), National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs). Dr Holmes and Dr Percie de Sert gave examples of how the NC3Rs is leading international efforts on improving the reproducibility of animal experiments, working with regulators and the global pharmaceutical industry to explore whether the traditional animal testing paradigm for new drugs can be changed, and collaborating with the World Health Organisation on its test guidelines for the quality control of vaccines and biologics such as snake anti-venom and blood products. This talk was the October seminar in the MRC's 2020 seminar series. Watch the others here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSus4fp7v7sQuXdUwREyHbUMR8cqNZKYjTracking the COVID-19 pandemic in real timeMedical Research Council2020-12-10 | Professor Daniela De Angelis, Deputy Director of the MRC Biostatistics Unit based at Cambridge University, launched the MRC Seminar Series in September 2020. During her talk she gave us insights into her work on monitoring and evaluating aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic from March – September 2020. Her team’s evaluations have been reported regularly to the Scientific Pandemic Influenza sub-group on Modelling (SPI-M), a subgroup that feeds into the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). This talk was the September seminar in the MRC's 2020 seminar series. Watch the others here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSus4fp7v7sQuXdUwREyHbUMR8cqNZKYjMax Perutz Science Writing Award 2020: Virtual award ceremony #MaxP20Medical Research Council2020-10-15 | Recording of the virtual award ceremony for the Max Perutz Science Writing Award 2020 on Tuesday 13 October.
#MaxP20 #SciComm #ScienceWritingMRC Max Perutz Science Writing Award 2020: Meet the shortlist #MaxP20Medical Research Council2020-10-15 | Find out more about the shortlisted entrants for this year's Max Perutz Science Writing Award, as they tell us what motivated their research, why they entered the competition, what helped their writing and why it's important to communicate about their research.
We received the highest number of entries ever this year, with 140 applicants, and the quality of the articles was extremely high. The following entrants made the shortlist:
Kirsty Balachandran, Imperial College London
Miranda Buckle, MRC Doctoral Training Partnership, University of Oxford
Isabella Goldsbrough, Imperial College London
Jonathan Lewis, MRC Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham
Maria Stavrou, University of Edinburgh Undoing the Straitjacket
Fernanda Teixeira Subtil, Francis Crick Institute From the Palace to the Favela
Sarah Taylor, MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh
Elisabeth Trinh, MRC Doctoral Training Partnership, University of Manchester
Stepheni Uh, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge
Julia Wiktoria Wcislo, University of Dundee
#MaxP20 #SciComm #ScienceWritingProfessor Fiona Watt interviews Sir Paul Nurse Director of the Francis Crick InstituteMedical Research Council2020-03-20 | Professor Fiona Watt, MRC Executive Chair, interviews the Director of the Francis Crick Institute at the Crick-MRC Engagement Day in September 2019.
The Francis Crick’s Institute's mission is discovery without boundaries and there is no limit to the direction the #research takes. The institute's aim is to understand more about how living things work to help improve #treatment, #diagnosis and prevention of human #disease, and generate economic opportunities for the UK.
The institute has more than 2,000 staff and students use their wide-ranging knowledge and expertise to work across disciplines and explore biology at all levels, from molecules through cells to entire organisms.
The Crick is the outcome of a merger between the MRC's National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and CRUK's London Research Institute (LRI). The new institute was named after the UK scientist Francis Crick in recognition of his contributions to understanding the genetic code, the key to understanding how living things work.
The MRC is one of six founding partners along with: Cancer Research UK (CRUK), Wellcome, UCL (University College London), Imperial College London and King’s College London.
Celebrating 100 years of Discoveries | DNA from Watson, Crick and Franklin to Ramakrishnan ▶️ youtube.com/watch?v=rDqJTH9odKs
Pioneers of Transplantation Peter Medawar | Laying the Foundation of Modern Transplantation ▶️ youtube.com/watch?v=E4CZMnEratM
ABOUT THE MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (MRC)
The Medical Research Council (MRC) improves the health of people in the UK – and around the world – by supporting excellent science, and training the very best scientists.
#MRC #Medicine #MedicalSciences #MedicalResearch #Innovation #HealthMRC New Investigator Research Grant: MentoringMedical Research Council2020-03-02 | Find out how mentoring has benefitted MRC early career researchers and how to access mentoring schemes supported by MRC. Visit the Academy of Medical Sciences website for info: acmedsci.ac.uk/grants-and-schemes/mentoring-and-other-schemes/mentoring-programmeMRC New Investigator Research Grant: Writing the ProposalMedical Research Council2020-03-02 | Top considerations when putting together your MRC New Investigator Research Grant application.MRC New Investigator Grant: What does a good proposal look like?Medical Research Council2020-03-02 | Find out what makes a good MRC New Investigator Research Grant proposal.MRC New Investigator Research Grant: What is a NIRG?Medical Research Council2020-03-02 | Find out what an MRC New Investigator Research Grant is and what you need to consider before applying.Young Peoples Mental Health | Busting Mental Health Myths Through ArtMedical Research Council2020-02-06 | Does everyone experience #mentalhealth issues in the same way? If mental health conditions run in your family, are you destined from birth to develop them?
These are just some of the myths busted by The National Gallery mental health awareness audio tour, developed in collaboration with young people that have lived experiences of mental health problems.
Dr Helen Fisher, reader in Development Psychopathology, #research lead on the project from King's College London, talks about how art can help break down common myths around mental health. Her research focuses on why young people develop mental health problems and how to prevent them from doing so.
In order to have a big impact on young people's lives there is a need to intervene in #childhood and adolescence, to tackle mental health problems before they begin. However, due to stigma around mental health issues, young people struggle to reach out and talk about them.
It's important to raise awareness and understanding of mental health to reduce the stigma around these conditions. One way to do that is to use art and work with creative institutions to get people to think about mental health in a different way.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) improves the health of people in the UK – and around the world – by supporting excellent science, and training the very best scientists.
#MRC #Medicine #MedicalSciences #MedicalResearch #Innovation #HealthThe MRCs New Investigator Research Grant (NIRG) | Advice and Guidance for ApplicantsMedical Research Council2020-02-06 | Watch this video for help and advice as an early career researcher applying to the NIRG scheme and to learn what is expected from a great NIRG application.
The New Investigator Research Grant (NIRG) is aimed at #researchers who are capable of becoming independent principal investigators and who are now ready to take the next step towards that goal. You can apply across all areas of the MRC’s remit. All successful new investigator research grant holders are eligible to register for the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) #mentoring scheme
Applicants are expected to combine time spent on the NIRG with a portfolio of other activities, such as time spent on other research grants or clinical duties, teaching, administration duties, or other time spent in faculty (this list is not exhaustive). As such, applicants are normally expected to request up to, but no more than, 50% of their contracted working time on the NIRG.
A NIRG is normally of three years’ duration and is not renewable. Exceptionally, applications for a longer period of time may be accepted if the case supporting the transition to independence and scientific rationale is sufficiently justified. NIRGs do not normally last for less than three years as it is unlikely a shorter period of time will fully enable the transition to independence to be achieved.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) improves the health of people in the UK – and around the world – by supporting excellent science, and training the very best scientists.