APPENDIX 18
Memorandum from Dr Robert L Coffman, Dynavax
For the past 30 years, I have conducted research
in the fields of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, two fields
in which the NIMR is highly regarded throughout the world. I consider
many on its staff as friends and colleagues and have followed
the debate on the future of the NIMR with great interest and,
more recently, considerable dismay.
I will not attempt to restate or provide my
opinions on all of the complex issues however, I would like to
emphasise how critical the Mill Hill location is if the NIMR is
to continue first-rate research in Immunology and Infectious Diseases.
The arguments put forth concerning the need for significant expansion
of facilities for infectious disease containment and animal research
are quite compelling. It is inconceivable that significant facilities
for these activities could, practically or politically, be constructed
in central London. Having these specialised facilities at some
distance from the main Institute laboratories is not a viable
option either. Indeed, the Mill Hill campus has just the right
balance of isolation, but proximity to other major research and
clinical centres. In contrast, the need to have closer proximity
to major hospitals to stimulate translational research is not
a particularly compelling one. Clinical studies are done where
there is appropriate medical talent and patient base and this
differs greatly for different diseases. Mill Hill is, if fact,
quite well located for clinical interactions, with an impressive
array of hospitals within an hour's travel. For research on even
fresh clinical samples, this is quite sufficient. I feel qualified
to comment on these particular matters as I run research programs
in both Immunology and Infectious Diseases and do significant
research on clinical samples from the US, Canada and the UK.
At a time when infectious diseases, naturally
acquired or deliberately spread, are a rapidly growing health
concern and diseases of abnormal immunity, such as asthma and
autoimmunity, remain major sources of unmet medical need, it would
be irresponsible for the leading national biomedical research
facility to be unable to perform necessary research in these areas.
10 November 2004
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