The much-anticipated Cabinet reshuffle took place last week with major changes of relevance to research. Chris Skidmore MP (Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation) was sacked and the role has now split higher education from science for the first time since 2010. Universities Minister, Michelle Donelan MP, will be situated in the Department for Education, with Amanda Solloway MP to serve as Science Minister within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Alok Sharma MP is the new Secretary of State for BEIS.

Within the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Baroness Blackwood resigned as Life Sciences Minister and her brief has been split: New Minister for Care Helen Whately MP takes on life sciences and research, with Mental Health Minister Nadine Dorris acquiring the patient data and medicines regulation briefs. Matt Hancock MP remains as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Baroness Barran MBE steps into the role of Minister for Civil Society.

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