APPENDIX 55
Memorandum from the University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh:
1. supports strongly an increased emphasis
on translating NIMR science into improved prevention, diagnosis
and treatment of ill health;
2. advises that the surest prospect for adding
translational value to NIMR's excellent basic research is to co-locate
with a university/university hospital (we have recently raised
over £90 million to co-locate over 800 biomedical bench scientists
with the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh);
3. believes that the status quo is not acceptable,
since MRC is already foregoing added value from its very considerable
annual investment in NIMR at the isolated Mill Hill site;
4. remains concerned that the case for productive
synergy between some of the main groupings in NIMR (eg between
Infection/Immunity and Neurosciences) has yet to be made, since
this is the key argument against relocation to more than one site;
5. does not share the Task Force's view that
relocation to central London is less likely to risk loss of outstanding
staff than relocation elsewhere; and
6. concludes that MRC should not limit relocation
options to central London, seeking instead "added added value"
from co-location with (a) university hospital site(s) where MRC
already has major investment.
22 November 2004
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