Charities and networks supporting world-class medical research in Scotland are calling on MSPs to work with them to build a stronger, scientific Scotland for the future.
These calls have been developed by members of the PAWG Scotland network - which brings together public affairs and policy lead from members of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), learned societies, networks and universities funding and conducting medical research in Scotland.
The five calls are:
Give science the priority it deserves
- Designate a minister in the Scottish government with lead responsibility for science
- And a parliamentary committee with similar responsibility
Download PDF of PAWG Scotland Challenge 1: Give science the priority it deserves
Support universities to carry out world-class research
- Continue to fund the research base in Scotland’s universities
- Maintain the charity element of the research excellence grant, supporting the full economic cost of charity-funded research in universities
Download PDF of PAWG Scotland Challenge 2: Support universities to carry out world-class research
Ensure the discoveries we fund reach the people who need them
- Streamline regulation of clinical research within the NHS
- Improve the translation of innovations in medical research into clinical practice by the NHS.
Download PDF of PAWG Scotland Challenge 3: Ensure the discoveries we fund reach the people who need them
Train, develop and support world-class medical researchers
- Reinforce the importance of science as a career, ensuring young people acquire the skills to become scientists
- Support medical research careers
Download PDF of PAWG Scotland Challenge 4: Train, develop and support world-class medical researchers
Promote the benefits and importance of medical research
- Raise awareness of the essential part medical research plays in improving health
- Support open debate about key issues in medical research
Download PDF of PAWG Scotland Challenge 5: Promote the benefits and importance of medical research
We will be contacting MSPs and prospective MSPs ahead of the May 2011 election to ensure medical research is on their agenda; asking them to support our policy calls and work with us to build Scottish science for the future.
The organisations making these policy calls include:
Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC)
Asthma UK
Breakthrough Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer Campaign
British Heart Foundation (BHF)
Cancer Research UK
Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland
Genetic Alliance UK
Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF)
Medical Research Scotland
Meningitis Research Foundation
Myeloma UK
The Prostate Cancer Charity
The Psoriasis Association
Rare Disease UK
RNID
Scottish Stem Cell Network
The Stroke Association
9 November 2010