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[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Cash boost for bird flu research[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif] Press Association
Monday May 22, 2006 4:03 AM[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-5836942,00.html
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[FONT=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif][/FONT][FONT=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif] Press Association
Monday May 22, 2006 4:03 AM[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-5836942,00.html
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[FONT=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]A major research project into the threat of Bird Flu has been launched by the Medical Research Council (MRC), it has been revealed.
The council has set aside an additional ?10 million, on top of the ?1.6 million normally set aside, to look into the threat of the H5N1 virus, with the aim of tackling the threat of a flu pandemic.
Ten research grants, totalling ?4 million, have so far been awarded, allowing scientists to look at the source, spread and potential cure for the South East Asian originated virus.
Professor Deborah Smith, who chaired the awards panel, said: "We've been agile in our response to the threat posed by a potential flu pandemic.
"We've funded research that was academically excellent and urgently needed. In the coming months, we will work with our partners to look again for gaps in research and consider how best to close them.
"Once they've been identified, we'll invest in more research later this year and next in our effort to combat the threat from H5N1 on all fronts."
The MRC has set aside an additional ?3.5 million for flu research later in the year and a further ?5 million will be invested in 2007/08.
The call for extra funding came following a mission of MRC experts who travelled to South East Asia to discover more about the spread of the avian flu virus.
Colin Blakemore, chief executive of the MRC, said: "Vigilance is the key to our strategy. We've responded quickly to the potential health crisis posed by the H5N1 virus and this funding should lead to a much better understanding of the spread of the disease.
"This special call has drawn in the expertise of several scientists who don't normally focus their research in this area. The investment has the potential to help find ways to reduce the effects of the virus in people and animals and possibly to develop ways to stop the spread of the virus."
? Copyright Press Association Ltd 2006, All Rights Reserved.
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