The new government has many competing priorities to manage, including the NHS, social care, education, and policing, when it comes to spending decisions. What position should science hold on the list?
There are hundreds of thousands of individuals working in the science and technology sectors in the East. Numerous individuals believe that backing the industry is crucial for enhancing the quality of life for everyone.
In 2017 Fiona Barvé initially believed her exhaustion was a result of working too much. However, after experiencing slight stomach discomfort, medical examinations revealed that the A-level biology educator from Saffron Walden, Essex, had stage 4 ovarian cancer, which had spread beyond its usual location.
The shock was immense. “It wasn’t until after a year passed that I finally grasped the situation,” she explained.
The operation was a success, however, the cancer came back in 2022. Mrs Barvé is currently participating in a clinical study using a medication known as olaparib to help control her cancer.
“It’s not a remedy because I doubt we will achieve that, but it’s keeping my cancer under control at nearly 0%, and that’s fantastic,” she remarked.
Living near Addenbrooke’s Hospital is a fortunate situation for me. Not all individuals in the UK have access to these opportunities. I worry about what will occur once the trial is finished, as there are financial consequences to consider.
Trials come with high costs, and the research leading up to them is also expensive, with a lot of it depending on public funds.
Cambridge professor Sir Steve Jackson initially conceived olaparib in the 1990s but big pharmaceutical companies deemed it too risky to invest in. As a result, Cancer Research UK and the University of Cambridge provided funding for the project.
Without funding for my lab and our discoveries, this drug wouldn’t be in existence. He stated that there are individuals currently walking around who would have perished.
Prof Jackson is just one scientist among thousands at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. He stated that, similar to many others, he needed to “continuously obtain funding to sustain the research, and every pound invested contributes more to the economy”.
However, the request to the fresh administration goes beyond financial matters. The charity established Cancer Research Horizons, an external initiative, to assist in translating research into treatments. The CEO, Iain Foulkes, stated that clinical trials should be simplified as well.
“It has taken us two years to initiate a trial, which is excessively prolonged.” We lack the necessary healthcare staff from the NHS to support the organization and execution of clinical trials. Dr Foulkes stated that they are preoccupied with everyday tasks.
There is an excess of bureaucratic procedures as well. We need to pass multiple approval stages, which can last for several months. The pandemic demonstrated our potential for achievement in times of necessity.
Cambridge is renowned worldwide for its healthcare research, while Norwich Research Park, located approximately 65 miles away, specializes in food science. Two new businesses in the area are eager to attract government support as well.
Alora is a company specializing in oceanic agriculture, claiming to have created crops that are extremely tolerant to salt, enabling them to be grown on the ocean’s surface. It claims to reduce the requirement for fertilizers and the consumption of clean water for watering plants.
Rory Hornby, who is a co-founder, mentioned that 70% of the globe’s freshwater is utilized in agriculture, leaving only a limited amount for drinking. Therefore, our actions aid the environment and could potentially alleviate world hunger by enhancing the availability of healthy food.
The crops can be cultivated on land deemed unsuitable for agriculture due to its high salinity levels.
Alora was established in San Francisco due to the strict laws on plant breeding in the UK. After the rules changed last year, the company relocated to Norwich, but Mr Hornby has called on the government to distribute the wealth.
“Labour’s introduction of a start-up/scale-up fund is positive, but it is limited to the Cambridge, Oxford, London area, despite the fact that the country has many other opportunities.”
PfBIO is the neighbouring company of Alora at the research park. Rosaria Campilongo founded it with the goal of producing natural bacterial substitutes for chemical pesticides, in response to the mounting demand for reduced pesticide use among farmers.
She stated that various crops, such as strawberries, require weekly spraying to control pests and diseases. “We enhance the process to make it more organic and minimize chemical residues on the fruit.”
Dr Campilongo attributes the start of her vision to previous funding from Innovate UK and now urges the new government to hasten regulatory approval for agricultural products and alter the visa system.
We aim to hire from Norwich and the UK, yet as a small company, sponsoring foreign scientists for collaboration is beyond our budget and presents a challenge.
The next spending review will determine funding for research and development, with a government spokesperson stating that “life sciences in the UK is a notable success, boosting the economy and revolutionizing healthcare”.
The spokesperson stated that they would adopt a prolonged strategy for funding periods, providing researchers with the assurance they require, alongside outlining a strategy to expand all regions of the UK.
“The UK government will simplify the process of conducting life-saving research by making it faster, more transparent, and less bureaucratic, aiming to have the country lead in clinical trials globally.”
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