UK News

ViewResearchers reignite debate over effectiveness of lateral flow tests

Preprint suggests tests detect up to 90% of infections that people would pass onto contacts

ViewExtra REF support agreed, but no further deadline delay

Help for universities struggling during lockdown announced, although 31 March deadline stays

ViewWebsites of EU R&D projects at risk due to Brexit-related rules

Non-EU nationals residing in the UK are no longer eligible to hold .eu domain name

ViewUniversity spinouts ‘remain concentrated in golden triangle’

Four universities in Oxford, Cambridge and London account for a third of all UK spinouts

ViewRussell Group universities join Covid-19 vaccination drive

Several research-intensive universities have turned their campus facilities into vaccination centres

ViewHealth research funder appoints first head of equality

NIHR has also appointed a new research delivery director of its Clinical Research Network

ViewUKRI: Words to the wise

Analysing Ottoline Leyser’s rhetoric during her first six months leading UK Research and Innovation

ViewPhD parents and carers call for funding extension from UKRI

Lack of funding puts them at an ‘immediate disadvantage’ in their career, say postgrads

ViewScience consortium to study mutations of coronavirus

National Virology Consortium will look at how mutations in virus affect its transmission and pathogenicity

ViewAI and imaging database aims to speed up Covid diagnosis

Hospitals and universities to use imaging to track patterns and markers of illness

ViewTony Blair calls for post-Brexit tech and innovation boost

Former prime minister says Britain has potential to be at the forefront of technological innovation

ViewPeers call for more research into underlying processes of ageing

Committee complains of ‘lack of effort’ to ensure that research is properly funded

ViewConcern as post-Brexit copyright rules restrict access to materials

British Library removes digitised version of Spare Rib after government repeals EU orphan works exception

ViewVersus Arthritis appoints next director of research

Neha Issar-Brown joins charity from Fight for Sight, where she was also research director

ViewBioethics body calls for Covid guidance on resource allocation

Comprehensive national guidelines ‘essential to ensuring public trust and confidence’, says Nuffield Council on Bioethics

ViewUKRI chief executive responds to researchers’ Covid-19 concerns

Ottoline Leyser defends allocation of resources during pandemic and says UKRI is reviewing call deadlines

ViewGraham Turnock to step down as head of UK Space Agency

Recruitment for Turnock’s successor will begin soon, says government

ViewResearch heads relaxed about Horizon Europe rollout

Publication of first calls and model grant agreement expected after mid-April

ViewVaccine lab staff ‘should be prioritised for Covid-19 jabs’

AstraZeneca executive warns ‘everything could stop’ if there are outbreaks in its centres

ViewForensic science regulator warns of ‘urgent need for change’

Gillian Tully calls for ‘concerted government action’ to strengthen UK’s forensic science

ViewSanofi to buy Sanger Institute spin-out in £1bn deal

Wellcome-backed Kymab snapped up by French biotech company

ViewRegulator demands patient input in health research design

Funders must ensure patient involvement, even in rapid-reaction Covid-19 studies, says HRA

ViewVaccine centres ‘will have capacity for future UK outbreaks’

Government officials say vaccine manufacturing centres could produce 70 million doses within six months

ViewAcademies call for UK’s swift Horizon Europe association

Government must clarify arrangements ‘as quickly as possible’ to give researchers certainty, say science academies

ViewUKSA to explore nuclear power for space exploration

Joint study with Rolls-Royce will look at ‘game-changing potential’ of technology powering space travel

ViewCommunity rollout of fast Covid tests met with scepticism

Experts call for more evidence on effectiveness as government pushes testing of symptomless citizens

ViewFormer head of Innovate UK calls for more freedom for UKRI

Ian Campbell says loosening of restrictions could allow funder to operate in more dynamic way

ViewNew appointments at Nuffield Council on Bioethics and NERC

Nuffield Council on Bioethics appoints new director while NERC appoints new members to science committee

ViewEmails between Cummings and UKRI reveal close ties

Ex-adviser corresponded with UKRI leader Walport and successor Leyser on Covid, Arpa and artificial intelligence

ViewBrexit deal leaves UK chemicals industry hanging

Industry uncertain over cost of data for registering chemicals to new UK regulatory system