An unlikely benefactor

doi:10.1136/bmj.39506.495868.AD

BMJ 2008;336:746 (5 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.39506.495868.AD

Feature

Research funding

An unlikely benefactor

Geoff Watts, freelance journalist

¹ London

geoff@scileg.freeserve.co.uk

Money for research has tended to be compartmentalised by discipline,but, as Geoff Watts reports, one funding body is broadeningits horizons

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Think of the government funding sources that underpin most UKresearch in medicine and health care and what comes to mind?The Medical Research Council, obviously; and, more recently,the National Institute for Health Research. But what about theEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council? Readersmay be surprised to learn that an organisation operating inthis territory has recently identified next generation healthcareas one of its four priorities. Why this choice?

The council drew up its priorities for funding in response toa government statement setting out the key challenges now facingUK society.¹ Kedar Pandya, head of the council’s lifesciences interface programme, is overseeing the next generationhealthcare activities. One factor in the choice of theme, hesays, was the government’s interest in putting more emphasison the lifelong maintenance of good health and wellbeing. Anotherwas a consultation with the council’s advisory board ofsenior . . . [Full text of this article]