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Brexit: As Article 50 is triggered, what’s next for UK science and patients?

by Peter Johnson | Analysis

4 April 2017

9 comments 9 comments

Peter Johnson

Last week, the UK Government triggered Article 50, the official commitment to the UK leaving the European Union (EU) following the referendum. This marks the start of the negotiation process between the UK and EU on the terms of withdrawal.

Since the UK public’s vote in favour of leaving the EU in June last year, we’ve been identifying the possible implications and opportunities that a new relationship with the EU could present for medical research and cancer patients.

Below, our chief clinician, Professor Peter Johnson, shares some of the key areas we’ve been highlighting in our meetings with representatives in Westminster and Brussels and in our responses to parliamentary committee inquiries that have opened in recent months. And we’ll continue to focus on these issues now that the formal process to leave the EU has begun.

The right people for the job

Every day I work with talented researchers who are tackling cancer. Researchers working in hospitals and labs across the country are at the heart of the discoveries that will benefit cancer patients in the UK, in Europe and worldwide. It’s the mix of UK, EU and international expertise working together which makes UK science great.

4 in 10 Cancer Research UK fellows are from the EU, as are one third of our PhD students.

Cancer Research UK believes it’s crucial to attract and retain those people no matter where they’re from. This is so that patients can get the best, innovative treatments and benefit from key scientific collaborations at home and internationally.

Supporting the science environment

Cancer Research UK receives no direct government funding for its research. But broader investment in science and research by the UK Government and by the EU provides the backbone of support for our researchers to carry out their life-saving work.

Between 2011 and 2015, Cancer Research UK-funded researchers received more than £45m in further funding from the European Commission following their Cancer Research UK award.

Continued support for science from the UK Government is important to make sure our researchers’ excellent work continues and can grow. And, for patients, that investment is vital as we push to see 3 in 4 people survive cancer by 2034.

That’s why I welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to an ambitious Industrial Strategy for the UK, something the Government has called a “critical part” of the plan for post-Brexit Britain. We believe this provides an excellent opportunity to put patient-focused science at the heart of plans for the country’s growth.

In response to the Government’s call for views on its Industrial Strategy Green Paper, we’ll be submitting our ideas as to how best we think we can support the life sciences’ sector in the UK.

One of these suggestions is enhancing government support for charity investment in medical research through an increase in the Charity Research Support Fund (CRSF). This fund supports overhead costs such as general lab maintenance for scientists, which aren’t covered by charities as they fund the research itself through generous donations from supporters. An increase in the fund is needed to provide long-term confidence for universities seeking charity investment.

Looking to Brussels, the UK benefits from EU funding programmes both through the money they provide and – more importantly – through the support they bring for important collaborations between doctors and scientists. And that’s why it’s also vital that everyone sitting around the negotiating table in Brussels considers the value the UK continues to offer to support science in the EU.

Accessing drugs and taking part in trials

There are common EU rules applied in the UK which govern how research is carried out and how drugs are approved. These rules are really important for patient safety and to make sure that people in the UK and the EU can benefit from the latest treatments available. They support a lot of research that is already happening across the EU, providing consistency that isn’t replicated between other countries in the same way around the world.

The UK has played a key role in the new EU Clinical Trials Regulation, which comes into force next year. It’s an important law that will benefit patients, improving how clinical trials are run across the EU with the highest standards of patient safety.

In cancer, cross-border trials are especially important for rare and children’s cancers where the numbers of people affected are small. For progress to continue in these challenging areas, it’s vital that UK patients keep taking part in cross-border research.

1 in 3 Cancer Research UK-supported clinical trials have involvement from countries outside the UK.

To allow me and many other doctors and researchers to continue to collaborate with partners across the EU, the UK Government needs to consider how rules supporting research, like the Clinical Trials Regulation, will be recognised legally by the EU and vice versa when the UK leaves.

The UK Government should also consider how the UK’s rules could inspire further global collaboration, increasing Britain’s appeal as a place to launch innovative treatments for patients. This could be supported by ensuring the NHS is the best place to carry out clinical research.

What happens next?

As the formal negotiation process begins, Cancer Research UK will be continuing its work to ensure patients and research are on the agenda when it comes to the UK’s new relationship with the EU. And we’ll be talking to government, both in Westminster and Brussels, where opportunities arise.

Our priorities on people, investment and regulation are common themes that have been recognised across the science sector. And we’ll be working closely with other partners to make sure our voice is heard on these important issues.

Ultimately, we want to ensure patients get the best deal as we look to establish a new relationship with the EU.

Professor Peter Johnson, chief clinician, Cancer Research UK

  • You can read more about Cancer Research UK’s work on Brexit on our website.

    Comments

  • Andrew Norris
    30 May 2017

    Great work keep it going it gives great encouragement to me and many other patients. Thank You for your excellent work.

  • George MacBride
    5 May 2017

    I understand why you have taken this approach of continuing dialogue with the government, identifying positive strategies. However, I do believe that the decision of the government to leave the EU and to do so in a way that is likely to lead to a poor outcome was wrong and we should not be afraid to say so. It is all too likely that any limited understanding of and any rhetorical commitment to international cooperation in science, medicine education on the part of current UK ministers will be trumped by their desire to limit immigration whether directly,or through the application of humiliating immigration procedures to university staff (university HR to report to the authorities any absence of Tier 4 senior staff) or by fanning hostility to ‘foreigners’ in general, as we have seen on our streets.

  • Dr Ron Butterly
    5 May 2017

    People who voted for Brexit , perhaps without realising, have undermined much vital research, in medicine and other areas. All researchers from the EU should be retained in the UK. Contrary to Frank’s post of May 4th, people need to know of the likely pitfalls to Brexit. as these may influence their view of the future and thus what they might be able to do about it. Politics are inextricably linked to all aspects of life. Time more people realsied their importance.

  • Angela
    5 May 2017

    All medical professionals in my humble opinion should be allowed to come in and stay for as long as they wish. I also think more should be done to help and encourage the natives to stay here in they chosen profession. Trying to prevent ilnessses caused due to environmental factors is also something that people should be educated about it
    Testing, testing and more testing equals prevention and less expensives for the NHS

  • Terence Stapleton
    4 May 2017

    Why use this great institution as a political football carry on with your valuable work.
    I am sure the outside world will appreciate the results and shame on them if they don’t want to help or contribute. It may prove that the exit vote was correct if they don’t help.

  • David bell
    4 May 2017

    I think all people from Europe should be allowed to come and go if they are medical researchers or doctors and nurses we still need them we will be far worse off if they returned to their own country would the NHS survive

  • Fenwick
    4 May 2017

    Thank you for the report. It is very concerning to hear that researchers don’t feel welcome here.

  • Frank
    4 May 2017

    I think you should stick to research, which I donate to, instead of continuing the fearmongering. Do you seriously think posts like this helps your patients, present or prospective?

  • Arti Kumar
    4 May 2017

    I think Brexit is inevitably going to de-stabilise the situation and cooperation that has existed in the field of science and health research. Non-UK researchers collaborating with us here are already feeling unwelcome, and we cannot blame them for leaving if their status and rights cannot be guaranteed. The same holds true for students from EU countries – and that’s a pity because they bring a great study (and work) ethic that benefits everyone.

    Comments

  • Andrew Norris
    30 May 2017

    Great work keep it going it gives great encouragement to me and many other patients. Thank You for your excellent work.

  • George MacBride
    5 May 2017

    I understand why you have taken this approach of continuing dialogue with the government, identifying positive strategies. However, I do believe that the decision of the government to leave the EU and to do so in a way that is likely to lead to a poor outcome was wrong and we should not be afraid to say so. It is all too likely that any limited understanding of and any rhetorical commitment to international cooperation in science, medicine education on the part of current UK ministers will be trumped by their desire to limit immigration whether directly,or through the application of humiliating immigration procedures to university staff (university HR to report to the authorities any absence of Tier 4 senior staff) or by fanning hostility to ‘foreigners’ in general, as we have seen on our streets.

  • Dr Ron Butterly
    5 May 2017

    People who voted for Brexit , perhaps without realising, have undermined much vital research, in medicine and other areas. All researchers from the EU should be retained in the UK. Contrary to Frank’s post of May 4th, people need to know of the likely pitfalls to Brexit. as these may influence their view of the future and thus what they might be able to do about it. Politics are inextricably linked to all aspects of life. Time more people realsied their importance.

  • Angela
    5 May 2017

    All medical professionals in my humble opinion should be allowed to come in and stay for as long as they wish. I also think more should be done to help and encourage the natives to stay here in they chosen profession. Trying to prevent ilnessses caused due to environmental factors is also something that people should be educated about it
    Testing, testing and more testing equals prevention and less expensives for the NHS

  • Terence Stapleton
    4 May 2017

    Why use this great institution as a political football carry on with your valuable work.
    I am sure the outside world will appreciate the results and shame on them if they don’t want to help or contribute. It may prove that the exit vote was correct if they don’t help.

  • David bell
    4 May 2017

    I think all people from Europe should be allowed to come and go if they are medical researchers or doctors and nurses we still need them we will be far worse off if they returned to their own country would the NHS survive

  • Fenwick
    4 May 2017

    Thank you for the report. It is very concerning to hear that researchers don’t feel welcome here.

  • Frank
    4 May 2017

    I think you should stick to research, which I donate to, instead of continuing the fearmongering. Do you seriously think posts like this helps your patients, present or prospective?

  • Arti Kumar
    4 May 2017

    I think Brexit is inevitably going to de-stabilise the situation and cooperation that has existed in the field of science and health research. Non-UK researchers collaborating with us here are already feeling unwelcome, and we cannot blame them for leaving if their status and rights cannot be guaranteed. The same holds true for students from EU countries – and that’s a pity because they bring a great study (and work) ethic that benefits everyone.