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Within days of taking office, ColinBlakemore, former professor ofphysiology at the University ofOxford and now head of theMedical Research Council, was onthe road. In the first few months ofhis appointment he is spending asmuch time as possible learning atfirst hand about the strategies formedical research in UKuniversities, sharing his initialthoughts about the role of theMRC, and listening to the views ofthe medical research community.He plans to visit 16 universities byearly next year and expects arough ride. “At each university I’mincluding a 90-minute openmeeting when any researcher canengage in a free dialogue on anycritical issue,” he says.

Blakemore’s strategy follows atroubled recent past for the council.Earlier this year, the council washeavily criticised by the House ofCommons select committee onscience and technology, andaccused of being guilty of poorfinancial management andplanning, misguided researchstrategies and inadequatecommunication. Plans for the futureof the council’s National Institutefor Medical Research in Londonhave also drawn fire.

“I think the most alarming thingabout the select committee reporton the MRC was the fact that mostscientists who gave evidence didso anonymously. That impliesresearchers are afraid to expressopenly what they think of thecouncil they work for. I find that avery worrying sign, and that issomething we have to get rid of.We have all got to be able to speakout.”

Funding is a chronic issue andhe says it is still not back to thelevel of the 1980s despite recentincreases.

The key problem for hisuniversity audiences is the lack of

grants for top-rate projects. “Therehas been a decline inresponse–mode funding,” he says.“We need a more predictablebudget and need to be more openand engaging in discussion.”

Blakemore’s other early priorityis to raise the profile of MRCresearch and in a press release onthe first day of his new job hewarned that scientists mustcommunicate with the public ifthey are to be trusted. Fewscientists could have suchauthority for the plea. Blakemorehas spent many years under attack

from animal rights activists for theexperiments he has carried out andhis insistence on defending theirmedical justification to the public,for which he has won considerablerespect from other scientists.

Blakemore hopes these earlymoves will help the council. “TheMRC staff are a fantastic bunch ofpeople. We spend only 3% of ourbudget on administration. It is avery tight ship – in some areas tootight,” he says.

But while many welcomeBlakemore’s appointment, hewarns: “it is important to be awareof expectation management – Ican’t wave a wand or workmiracles. The MRC simply doesn’thave enough money”.

Feature

Raising profile

Colin Blakemore, the new chief executive of the Medical ResearchCouncil, tells Nigel Williams about his immediate priorities following thecouncil’s recent troubles.

Listening head: Colin Blakemore, the new chief executive of the Medical ResearchCouncil, is determined to listen to researchers and ensure that scientists are able to airtheir views on the running of the council. (Photograph: MRC.)