As in previous years and as is the practice in other countries, the
Council has supported medical research using three different funding
mechanisms; grants to individual investigators for single projects, support
for research units to undertake programmes of research, support for
the Medical Research Council's own laboratory located in Trinity
College, Dublin.
A total of 55 new applications were received for project grants in the
year under review. Of these 13 were not recommended for funding for
a variety of reasons such as lack of facilities, faulty design etc. The
remaining 42 were highly recommended and, of these, 27 were funded
but 15 were not funded. The latter, though highly recommended were
not granted due to insufficient funds being available. Furthermore, in
the majority of cases where funding was granted, the sums granted were
substantially less than requested.
The scheme for supporting research units is now well under way with
three of the units in the third year while one, that on brucellosis, has
finished. The Alcohol Research Unit has a broad remit, varying from basic
laboratory investigations to studying mental health problems associated
with alcohol addiction. The Coeliac Disease Research Unit also continues
its studies of a disease which is known to have a particularly high
prevalence in this country. The problem of high blood pressure, surely
a major cause of medical concern in developed countries, is being
investigated both at a laboratory and clinical level by the Hypertension
Research Unit.
rt was possible to start funding a programme of research on Lung
Fibrosis under the direction of Professor M. Fitzgerald in St. Vincent's
Hospital to replace the Brucellosis Unit. In addition, support was made
available for a unit on Hospital infection under the direction of Professors
Arbuthnott and Keane. Additional programmes approved but not funded
were for Drugs in the Elderly and Peri natal Mortality and Morbidity.
The personnel of the Medical Research Council Laboratories continue
their studies into the development of a drug which could be used in
combatting cancer. They are also maintaining an active role in the
development of new anti-leprosy drugs, an area where they have already
gained international recognition with the synthesis of clofazimine some
years ago.
The Council's ability to meet its financial commitments in these areas
has disimproved over the year under review. This problem, coupled with
our historically low funding base, has put great constraints upon all of
our investigators. In practical terms, this has resulted in the Council
being unable to fund 36% of projects that were highly recommended
after peer review. Furthermore, two approved units could not be funded.
Clearly, much important research is left undone and, when funding is
reduced, investigators must continue to carry out their studies in
increasingly difficult circumstances.
In a break with tradition, the Council held a press conference in its
premises on the occasion of the presentation of the annual report for
1981 to the Minister for Health, Dr. Michael Woods T.D. The conference
was well attended by representatives of the press who played an active
role in the proceedings. Subsequent to the press conference a useful
exchange of ideas took place between the members of the Council and
the Minister
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